§ Mr. Gerry Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proportion of the total land area of Telford New Town and of the Metropolitan borough of Birmingham, respectively, which is derelict.
855W
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe information is contained in the following table, which is based on the latest available comparative information from the 1974 survey of derelict land. Figures for the Black Country districts are included, since a comparison with the conurbation is probably more relevant than with Birmingham alone.
Statutorily derelict land as a percentage of the total land area of the authority Authority Telford New Town 4.2(a) Birmingham Metropolitan District 0.8 Dudley Metropolitan District 3.9 Sandwell Metropolitan District 3.6 Walsall Metropolitan District 3.7 Wolverhampton Metropolitan District 2.2 (a) Since 1974 this figure has been reduced by over 20 per cent. As my hon. Friend knows, I was able to see some of the work the Corporation has undertaken to tackle the problem of dereliction on my visit to Telford yesterday.