THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government what, both for the whole country and by counties, is the number and acreage of derelict war sites and installations, either in public or private hands, in respect of which no proposals for utility, amenity or landscape use have been made; what would be the cost of clearing these sites or adapting them to other use; and what similar figures or estimates exist for derelict sites or installations of non-war origin.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)The extended form of derelict land survey which my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has asked local authorities in England to undertake as at April 1. 1974, will show separately the areas of military and other service dereliction. The information at present available to him does not separately identify either the areas of derelict war sites and installations or the cost of dealing with them.
The total of derelict land of all kinds in England at December 31, 1971, justifying treatment was 64,253 acres. Between April 1, 1971, and December 31, 1972, reclamation schemes by local authorities in England were approved for grant in respect of 8,264 acres at a total estimated gross cost, including land acquisition, of £15.5 million. The average estimated gross cost per acre was £1,873.
House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past six o'clock.