§ Mr. Doverasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to direct the sale of land by public bodies and statutory authorities other than local authorities, once that land has been included on the land register for a year.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friend has powers under part X of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 to direct public bodies, as defined in schedule 16 to that Act, to take steps to dispose of their interest in any land which is entered on the land register. Disposal of land surplus to the requirements of Government Departments is the responsibility of the relevant Minister.
For last year's public expenditure survey Departments drew up plans with the general aim of disposing, wherever possible, of land then declared to be surplus by 1 April 1988. These plans are being revised in the course of this year's survey. Nationalised industries have a commercial incentive to dispose of surplus assets, including land.