§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage of derelict land in England has been reclaimed each year since 1966; how
ACREAGE OF DERELICT LAND RECLAIMED IN ENGLAND Acres Acreage outstanding Acres Year ending— 31st December 1967 … 1,639 92,643 31st December 1968 … 2,113 93,920 31st December 1969 … 2,504 95,722 31st December 1970 … 3,645 96,697 31st December 1971 … 4,792 97,091 31st December 1972 … 5,360 Not available* 1st January 1973 to 31st March 1974 (15 months) … 6,967 108,182† 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975 … 3,268 Not available 1st April 1975 to 31st March 1976 … 6,067 Not available
GRANT PAID IN EACH YEAR £ 1967–68 … … 245,057 1968–69 … … 436,293 1969–70 … … 543,893 1970–71 … … 1,383,810 1971–72 … … 2,801,331 1972–73 … … 3,569,022 1973–74 … … 4,362,266 1974–75 … … 4,589,518 1975–76 … … 6,447,027 1976–77 … … 9,038,418 * Annual Surveys were discontinued after 31st December 1971. † DOE Survey of Derelict and Despoiled Land in England 1974.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to keep a record of reclaimed land and new dereliction in England.
§ Mr. MarksPeriodic surveys by the Department record the areas, but not the specific locations, of land reclaimed by all agencies in England together with the areas of dereliction outstanding at the time of the survey. In addition, a continuing record is kept of the areas of location of sites reclaimed with Government aid.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions county and district councils have exercised their power under Section 6 of the Local Authorities (Land) Act 1963 to carry out works to enable derelict, neglected and unsightly land to be brought into use or improved in appearance.
§ Mr. MarksLocal authorities are not obliged to notify the use of these powers except where grant aid is sought. Since 1966 my Department has given grant686W much grant has been paid each year for reclamation works; and what was the total acreage of derelict land outstanding in each of those years.
§ Mr. MarksThe available information is as follows:
assistance to the following numbers of derelict land reclamation schemes pre-pared by local authorities exercising these powers:
1967–68 … … … 58 1968–69 … … … 81 1969–70 … … … 99 1970–71 … … … 188 1971–72 … … … 311 1972–73 … … … 303 1973–74 … … … 295 1974–75 … … … 168 1975–76 … … … 172 1976–77 … … … 204
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the next full survey of derelict land in England will take place.
§ Mr. MarksThe Department will shortly be discussing possibilities with the local authority associations.