§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the uncertainty caused by the proposed changes in the basis of compensation for the purchase of development land by local authorities, he will issue guidance to local authorities on the interim arrangements that should be made in order to maintain their advance purchases of land for housing schemes.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe timing of local authorities' purchases must be a matter for their own judgment. In the period before the new legislation is enacted I would expect them to continue with advance purchases of land essential for good planning and their housing programmes.