§ Mr. William Sheltonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of the Government with regard to disposal of public sector land which is surplus to requirements.
§ Mr. HeseltineIt is of the greatest importance that suitable land should be made available for housing, industrial and other necessary developments. The Government believe that all land which is currently held by public authorities surplus to requirements should be offered for sale as soon as practicable. The Government are asking for public authorities to act on this premise. In order to make the process simpler and quicker, they are now bringing to an end the redundant lands procedure, so that public authorities will be free to sell land on the open market immediately it becomes surplus, instead of first offering it for sale to other public sector bodies. In the light of this I have given instructions that the large Crown-owned site on the south bank of the Thames near Vauxhall bridge, which had been acquired for Civil Service offices, and for which there is no longer any requirement, will be offered for sale.