§ Mr. Delargyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek power to oblige owners of disused sand and gravel pits to fill them in.
§ Mr. MacCollMany of these pits can provide much needed facilities for water recreation. Local authorities have adequate powers for restoring or improving the appearance of derelict, neglected or unsightly land and my right hon. Friend is arranging to make grant available to them for this purpose, as announced in his recent White Paper on local government finance. In the case of pits where working has taken place subject to conditions for restoration or landscaping,466W local authorities have powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 to require compliance with the conditions. It is not right for all pits to be filled and in view of existing powers my right hon. Friend does not think that at present there is need for new statutory powers.