§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the total level of grants made for the acquisition and clearance of derelict land in the North Midlands derelict land clearance area in each year since such grants were introduced; and what progress this represents towards the total clearance of derelict land in that area.
§ Mr. ShoreThe information in the following table relates to the area of the North Midland derelict land clearance area as established in 1970. The rate of grant rose from 75 per cent. to 100 per cent. in December 1975.
Year Total expenditure covered by grant approvals Area of derelict land for reclamation covered by grant approval (£'s) (hectares) 1969–70 445,538 137 1970–71 1,114,997 178 1971–72 1,515,326 372 1972–73 1,522,014 336 1973–74 1,210,669 241 1974–75 1,402,244 210 1975–76 2,663,521 336 1976–77 2,270,018 241 1977–78 1,558,487 194 Totals 13,702,814 2,245 On 31 March 1974 there were estimated to be 3,802 hectares of derelict land in the local authority areas which coincided most closely with the North Midlands derelict land clearance area. In the four subsequent years about 1,000 hectares were reclaimed by all agencies, of which 761 were reclaimed by local authorities with the aid of grant.