§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have submitted properties in compulsory purchase orders (a) for demolition and (b) for compulsory improvements during the past five years; how many have been turned down following public inquiry; and how long it takes each region in England for a property to be compulsorily purchased.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe information is not available in the form requested. The average time taken to decide compulsory purchase orders made
224Wearlier than 1974–75. The total amounts of Exchequer grant, together with the amounts of rate support grant paid in respect of England and Wales for each of the years 1970–71 to 1978–79, and the latest figures for 1979–80, and the amounts of rate support grant paid to metropolitan areas, including Greater London and Merseyside authorities in each of the years from 1975–76, are:
under housing powers, which account for 90 per cent. of those submitted to the Department of the Environment, is five months for unopposed and 11½ months for opposed orders.
Beyond that the time taken to purchase properties varies widely as local authorities have three years from the date an order becomes operative in which to serve notice to treat; and completion of the purchase may involve further delay.