§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation requiring industries whose operations cause land to become derelict to undertake its reclamation.
§ Mr. John SilkinPlanning authorities already have powers to impose conditions requiring appropriate after-treatment of368W a site when granting planning permission for development. The operation of those powers in relation to mineral workings has been one of the matters reviewed by the Stevens Committee on Minerals Planning Control and we shall be considering whether further action is necessary when its report is published later this year. Local authorities also have power to deal with the reclamation of derelict land and Govenment grants are payable to them for that purpose where, because the development took place before planning control or for some other reason, the owner or occupier is not under a statutory obligation to reclaim it.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish a statutory register of derelict land, as suggested in "Dereliction of Land", published by the Professional Institutions' Council for Conservancy.
§ Mr. John SilkinDuring 1974 local authorities in England carried out a new survey of derelict and despoiled land, the results of which were recently issued by my Department. The authorities are therefore informed about the location, nature and extent of this land and my right hon. Friend can see no present justification for the additional administrative costs which the establishment of a statutory register would entail.