§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average loss on derelict land clearance schemes in the south-east Lancashire conurbation when the after-value has been deducted.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe estimated average net loss on derelict land reclamation schemes in south-east Lancashire approved by the Department since 1st April, 1970, is £1,333 per acre, after taking 51W account of the estimated after-value of the land.
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are taken by his Department to co-ordinate on a national basis the criteria used by local authorities to determine whether derelict land justifies treatment.
§ Mr. Graham PageWritten guidance has been issued to local authorities in England on carrying out the derelict land survey, including guidance on the criteria to be used to determine whether or not derelict land justifies treatment. This is supplemented by advice from the Department's regional offices, and the survey returns are discussed with local authorities where necessary.
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total expenditure on derelict land clearance in the North-West Region during 1970; and what proportion of this was borne by central Government;
(2) what was the total national expenditure on derelict land clearance in 1970; and what proportion of this was borne by central Government.
§ Mr. Graham PageLocal authority expenditure on derelict land schemes in the financial year 1970–71 was approximately £3.5 million in England as a whole and £1 million in the North-West Region. Information about expenditure incurred by other agencies is not available. The proportion of the total cost of the particular local authority schemes concerned falling on the Exchequer cannot readily be calculated. Where a scheme involves a net loss to a local authority derelict land grant is normally payable on the loss at the rate of 85 per cent. in development areas, 75 per cent. in intermediate and derelict land clearance areas and 50 per cent. elsewhere. Further Exchequer support at varying rates may be provided to local authorities through the resources element of rate support grant.
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what part of the North-West Region outside of the development and intermediate areas is classed as a derelict land clearance area.
52W
§ Mr. Graham PageFrom 22nd March the whole of the North-West Region outside the development areas comes within the intermediate areas except by reason of the definition of the area by reference to employment exchange boundaries, some small parts of Nantwich and Tarvin Rural Districts in Cheshire.
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the numbers of acres of derelict land that were restored by Bolton, Farnworth, Little Lever, Turton and West Houghton in 1966 compare with the figures for 1970.
§ Mr. Graham PageAccording to the derelict land surveys the acreages restored in the areas of these local authorities in the years mentioned were:
1966 1970 Bolton C.B.C. 9 3 Farnworth B.C. — — Little Lever U.D.C. — — Turton U.D.C. — — Westhoughton U.D.C. — —
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the legislation which gives local authorities power, directly or indirectly, to restore derelict land, giving the nature of such powers in each case.
§ Mr. Graham PageSpecific powers for local authorities to restore or improve the appearance of derelict land and to acquire land for these purposes are contained in Section 89 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, as amended by Section 6 of the Local Authorities (Land) Act, 1963. They include power for work to be done on land not belonging to local authorities, with the consent of all persons interested in such land.
A range of powers is available to local authorities to acquire land and to carry out development of various kinds; land for those purposes could include derelict land.
§ Mr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost of acquiring and reclaiming an acre of derelict land in the West Riding area; and what is the comparable average cost nationally.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe average gross cost per acre of derelict land reclamation 53W schemes, including land acquisition, approved by the Department since 1st April, 1970, was £1,550 per acre for the West Riding area compared with £1,581 per acre for England as a whole. Omitting the smallest schemes, costs of individual schemes ranged from about £100 an acre to about £30,000 per acre.