HC Deb 08 July 1981 vol 8 cc157-8W
9. Mr. Porter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made to dispose of vacant land held by the public sector.

Mr. Heseitine

Public bodies are expected to dispose of land that is surplus to their requirements as soon as possible.

Government measures to expedite the release of land include the abolition of the first offer procedure among public bodies, the repeal of the Community Land Act, streamlining the planning system and the introduction of land registers.

In particular, Government Departments have stepped up their land disposals, and the Property Services Agency, which handles by far the largest number, has in the past two financial years sold land to the value of £170 million.