§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance has been provided under Operation Eyesore to prevent disused railway tracks from becoming infested with weeds.
§ Mr. RipponUnder Section 8 of the Local Employment Act 1972, I may pay grant only when it appears to me that land is derelict, neglected or unsightly and that steps should be taken to enable the land to be brought into use or to improve its appearance. I do not think that this would cover preventive action of the sort described by my hon. Friend, although a number of local authorities in assisted areas have received grant towards the cost of landscaping and clearing up disused railway land.