§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the Government lifted the embargo on the sale of freehold industrial land by local authorities by allowing sales of up to 1.23 acres;
(2) what has been the response in take up from local authorities since the embargo on the sale of certain freehold industrial land was eased.
§ Mr. FreesonA letter was sent to local authorities last December giving them discretion as to the terms of disposal of small sites that are not significant in terms of the community land scheme—up to 0.5 hectares in area and £25,000 in value. As this revision removed the need372W for authorities to approach the Department in such cases, there is no central record of take-up. But there has been a substantial reduction in the number of applications to the Department for special consent.
§ Mr George Grantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the interests of assisting local authorities to stimulate jobs, especially in areas of high unemployment, if he will consider allowing the sale of freehold industrial land by local authorities up to five acres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Government have already introduce a wide range of measures to stimulate job creation, especially in areas of high unemployment, and I do not believe that land tenure is a crucial factor in investment decisions. Retention by local authorities of the freehold of industrial and commercial land is an important element of the community land scheme.