HC Deb 06 August 1975 vol 897 cc283-5W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to reimburse persons who have recourse to professional advice and representation in negotiations with his Department for the acquisition of land under Highways Acts Orders.

Statistics (HMSO) on pages 23 and 20, respectively, of Issue 12. Great Britain figures for local authorities and the whole public sector for 1970 have been reduced by 41 and those for 1971 and 1972 have been increased by 39 and two respectively: these follow recent revisions of Scottish figures.

Figures for 1960 and those for the English economic planning regions for 1972 to 1974 are as follows:

Mr. Carmichael

The legal costs of transfers of land acquired under such Orders are already reimbursed under Section 23 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965. A sum is included in the compensation settlement to cover the cost, reasonably and necessarily incurred, of the services of a surveyor in the compensation negotiations.