§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Transport (1) in how many cases British Railways have disposed of land to local authorities;
(2) in how many cases negotiations have broken down when land is being bought by local authorities from British Railways;
(3) in cases of land disposal by British Railways to local authorities, and agreements made, what is the shortest and longest period taken.
§ Mr. MarshThe British Railways Board say that precise information is not readily available. The estimate, however, that of the land they have disposed of during the past twelve months 50 per cent.-60 per cent. in terms of money value went to local authorities. Some transactions with local authorities have been completed within three months, but others are still outstanding after more than three years. Cases in which negotiations have broken down after failure to agree on price represent a very small proportion of total transactions with local authorities.