HC Deb 04 July 1977 vol 934 cc410-1W
Mr. Powell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals were disposed of by him in 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively; and how many of these were allowed.

Mr. Guy Barnett

Following is the information requested:

incorporated in Command Paper No. 6393, in view of the fact that the table on page 75 of Command Paper No. 6393 showed a projected figure of 1,500 acres to be acquired in 1976–77; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Guy Barnett

The Cmnd. 6393 figure of 1,500 related to Great Britain. The figure of purchases of 1,571 acres relates to England, and exceeds the England component of the 1,500 in Cmnd. 6393 by about one-third.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the figures contained in Table 2.8 of Command Paper No. 6721 for purchases of land under the Community Land Act are intended to be net of development tax; and, if so, what is the estimated loss of revenue to the Exchequer from the land having been purchased by the local authorities in this way.

Mr. Guy Barnett

The figures in table 2.8 are net of development land tax. They represent no loss of revenue to the Exchequer, since authorities' ability to buy land net of tax is a fundamental concept of the community land scheme and of the development land tax provisions.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assumptions have been made, in projecting the figures of £38 million, £64 million and £102 million for the financial years 1977–78 to 1979–80 for purchases of land under the Community Land Act, of the amount of land so purchased which will be resold, and at what average price per acre; and whether he will break his projections down for (a) housing (b) industrial and (c) commercial uses; (2) what is the projected acreage of land to be purchased by public authorities under the Community Land Act in 1978–79 and 1979–80, respectively, for (a) housing (b) industrial and (c) commercial purposes with the £64 million and £102 million at November 1976 prices contained in Table 2.8 of Command Paper No. 6721; and what is the assumed average purchase price per acre in each case; (3) what is the projected acreage of land to be purchased by public authorities under the Community Land Act in 1977–78 for (a) housing (b) industrial and (c) commercial purposes with the £38 million at November 1976 prices contained in Table 2.8 of Command Paper No. 6721; and what is the assumed average purchase price per acre in each case.

Mr. Guy Barnett

As I have said in another answer to the hon. Member today, we do not believe that it would be sensible to publish acreage and price projections. With regard to the different land uses, the aim is to encourage purchases and disposals in the direction of those purposes for which there is a strong local demand. My right hon. Friend has no predetermined mix in mind.