§ Mr. McKelveyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will collect information on the use of section 65 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 from local authorities and consider extending the scope of these powers.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be worthwhile to collect this data at the present time. The effective use of the power depends on the penalties in section 104 of the Act for noncompliance with a notice issued under section 65. These penalties have only recently been strengthened by a provision in the Local Government and Planning (Amendment) Act 1981 giving local authorities more effective power to preserve amenity by combating unsightliness in their locality. There are no plans to extend the scope of these powers still further.