§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will examine the need for a substantial increase in the level of grant to local authorities for the reclamation of derelict land, in order to hasten this process.
§ Mr. FreesonOne hundred per cent. grants are payable to local authorities for 529W the reclamation of derelict land in areas designated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry as development, intermediate or derelict land clearance areas. Elsewhere the grants are restricted to 50 per cent. by Section 9 of the Local Government Act 1966 and my right hon. Friend has no present plans for the amendment of that provision.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider the upgrading of wasteland to qualify for derelict land grants, in order to improve the urban industrial scene.
§ Mr. FreesonIn view of the limited resources which can be made available at present any widening of the scope of grant aid generally would affect adversely the progress with the priority task of reclaiming land damaged by industrial and other development. My right hon. Friend is, however, considering the scope of derelict land grants in his review of the needs of the inner cities.