§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assistance he will provide for owner-occupiers unable to sell their homes as a direct result of the proposed East London river crossing road scheme;
(2) in what circumstances his Department will purchase homes not directly required for the construction of the proposed East London river crossing.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are already using our discretionary Highways Act powers to buy property in order to help house-owners where the land is likely to be needed for the scheme and its associated works. The scheme has been mooted for many years and a number of the properties affected are already in public ownership. 173W One reason I am anxious to press ahead towards announcement of a preferred scheme is that this will formally establish statutory blight entitlements for those whose land is needed so that they will be able to oblige us by law to buy their homes at open market value. At later stages, once the work is going ahead, it will also be possible to consider purchases of property that are not on the direct line but would be seriously affected by the construction or use of the road.