§ 37. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many compulsory purchase orders are at the moment awaiting a ministerial decision in the North-West of England; 570W how many relate to orders before 1st January 1976, 1st January 1977 and 1st January 1978, respectively; how many are being processed each week; and when he expects to clear the backlog.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThere are at present 311 compulsory purchase orders at various procedural stages in the North-West, of which 135 are awaiting decision. Six are planning orders and the remainder are orders made under the Housing Acts. Two orders which have been deferred at the promoters' request were received before 1st January 1976; 38 before 1st January 1977; and 156 before 1st January 1978.
Processing is continuous from the initial examination of the order to the decision on merits. Orders are decided at the rate of about five per week. Clearance of the backlog of orders waiting decision depends upon the numbers of staff available and the complexity of the orders to be dealt with.