§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department, after 13 months of the present Government, in achieving the policy programme which he set it on assuming office.
§ Mr. HeseltineTwo major Bills have been prepared and introduced. The Housing Bill will give local authority and many housing association tenants the right to buy their homes and provide a tenants' charter for those who remain in the public sector. Its other provisions include measures to encourage lettings in the private rented sector and for a new housing subsidy system. The Local Government, Planning and Land (No 2) Bill will stimulate efficiency in local government by providing more rational arrangements for grants and for capital expenditure, by reducing detailed central Government intervention, by clarifying county and district planning responsibilities and by increasing accountability both in direct labour organisations and by the publication of performance indicators more generally. It will encourage the better use of land resources both broadly, through the repeal of the Community Land Act, improvements to the planning system, and the new registers of public land, and in particular in the areas of greatest need by the creation of urban46W development corporations and enterprise zones. More generally, steps have been taken to bring public expenditure under control in the areas for which my Department is responsible and I shall not hesitate to take further action as necessary. A detailed and comprehensive review of the Department is still under way. Overall, significant progress has been made, but much remains to be done.