§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers are available to local authorities for land purchase other than those of the Community Land Act.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThere is a wide variety of powers. Part VII of the Local Government Act 1972 provides general powers and many enactments dealing with specific local authority functions include land acquisition powers. There are also some powers in local Acts.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has issued on the use of the Community Land Act for land acquisition in cases where there is more than one power of acquisition available.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettGuidance was given in paragraph 36 of circular 30/76 issued on 16 March 1976. This was reproduced for convenience in paragraph 41 of circular 26/77 of 31 March 1977. The choice of powers is basically one for the 321W authority: if land is acquired under any power for disposal it normally becomes community land and is recorded in the land account.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the extent to which local authorities have used the rating system to make the holding of derelict and unused land unprofitable.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettDerelict and vacant land is not normally liable for rating since it is not in beneficial occupation. As for empty buildings, our most recent information is that approximately half of all rating authorities exercise their discretion under schedule I to the 1967 General Rate Act to levy the empty property rate, which includes all the London boroughs and the great majority of metropolitan districts. Nearly half of the authorities which are levying the empty property rate are levying it at 100 per cent. on all classes of property.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary State for the Environment whether he will seek to establish and enforce minimum environmental standards on undeveloped land presently held in a state detrimental to the environment and therefore to investment.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettWe do not consider it desirable to lay down general standards. Treatment of such land must derive from its own condition and characteristics. We have encouraged local authorities in the inner city partnership and programme areas to use the funds provided under "Operation Clean Up" for the purpose in mind, and the resources of the derelict land grant scheme are also available.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers exist to promote the use of clear signposting of ownership on undeveloped land so as to inform local people and assist permanent and temporary uses.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettNone.