§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in his land reclamation programme, he will take into account the problems of councils which suffer from an absence of private sector interest in land reclamation programmes; and whether he will ensure such councils will not be penalised by being given lower priority.
§ Mr. Giles ShawAs my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 9 December—[Vol. 14, c. 865.]—it is the Government's intention that those derelict land reclamation schemes submitted by local authorities which from the outset are associated with firm private sector proposals for industrial, commercial, housing or other developments should receive preferential treatment in the allocation of derelict land funds.
Other applications for grant will certainly be considered on their merits in the light of the resources remaining.
§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why some councils, in particular Hyndburn, are experiencing serious delays with the processing of their pre-tender applications for their programmes of land reclamation.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI am not aware of any complaints from local authorities generally about such delays.
The Department has received representations from the Hyndburn borough council about the time taken to process some of its applications, and my noble Friend the Lord Bellwin has sent the town clerk a full reply, a copy of which will be sent to the hon. Member.