§ 44. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what measures have been taken by his Department and local authorities in the clearance of derelict sites in coal-mining and other areas; and what was the total amount of expenditure involved.
§ Mr. MacCollComprehensive information is not available about the extent to which local authorities made use of their powers to treat derelict sites before 1964, when they were asked to make annual returns. The returns show that in 1964 2,076 acres and in 1965 2,061 acres were treated. My right hon. Friend has no information about the total expenditure of local authorities on the clearance of sites. As my right hon. Friend is aware, grant may be paid towards expenditure in development areas. Since 1960 78 schemes have been approved involving 1,003 acres and a grant commitment of44W £794,667. This excludes expenditure under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.