§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the panel's opinion, paragraph 6.94, Greater London Development Plan Report of the Panel of Inquiry, he will now review his policy concerning the approval of compulsory purchase orders, in cases where this is the only way in which rented property can be improved and maintained as rented accommodation.
§ Mr. RipponThe panel's recommendations are being studied in connection with a general review of policy on older housing.
§ Mr. Dunnettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the continuing delays encountered in holding public inquiries on compulsory purchase orders with the consequent inability to acquire and redevelop the land involved, he will take steps to reduce such delays.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe best prospect for reducing delays in holding public inquiries is to make more inspectors available. Over the last six months 62 new inspectors have been recruited and more are expected to join the Department in the course of the next few months.
§ Mr. Dunnettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of public inquiries currently pending in respect of compulsory purchase orders, the number of inspectors available to conduct such hearings and the comparative figures in each case for 28th February 1972.
§ Mr. Graham PagePublic inquiries into 334 compulsory purchase orders submitted to the Secretary of State mainly under housing, planning and highways legislation have currently been arranged but not yet held. Comparable figures for 28th February 1972 are not available. Including the Department's panel of inspectors, there are at present 220 inspectors available to hold these inquiries, though they represent only part of the casework with which the inspectors are called upon to deal. The corresponding number at 28th February 1972 was 153.