§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list the special environmental assistance schemes already completed within the area of the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit; how 253W many schemes are under way or proposed; and how many of the latter will be completed by June, 1973.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasInformation concerning completed schemes is not readily available. There have been 294 schemes approved in the area covered by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Reclamation Joint Committee, and, in order to attract grant aid, work on these should be completed by June, 1973. Most of these schemes are under way, and a further 164 are under consideration.
§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current contribution from his Department towards the cost of schemes prepared by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit; and what is his Department's estimated contribution for the financial year 1973–74.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe Welsh Office is currently contributing approximately £700,000 towards the cost of schemes prepared by the Joint Committee. Plans for 1973–74 are to be discussed with the Committee at a meeting on 27th November. 1972.
§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated acreage of derelict land yet to be treated within the local authority areas covered by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe latest available information from local authorities indicated that, at 31st December, 1969, there were 3,984 acres of derelict land justifying reclamation within the area now covered by the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Reclamation Joint Committee. Since that date 1,100 acres have been reclaimed leaving a balance of 2,884 acres still to be considered.
§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list all 254W the compulsory purchase orders served since June, 1970, involving derelict land for reclamation within the Monmouthshire Derelict Land Unit and in each case indicate whether a public inquiry was held, and the time taken between the serving of the purchase order and the hearing of the inquiry and between the inquiry and his decision, respectively.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThree compulsory purchase orders concerning derelict land proposed for reclamation have been submitted since June, 1970. The areas involved are situated at Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil, Tafarnau Bach, Tredegar, and in the Nantyglo and Blaina District. No public inquiry has yet been held. Inquiries have been arranged in the two latter cases, and the time between the submission to me and the inquiry date is 11 months and 8 months respectively.