§ Mr. LeighTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources are being made available under the derelict land programme in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe resources available in 1990–91 for derelict land reclamation under the derelict land programme will be £71.512 million.
Derelict land reclamation is one of the most effective ways in which the environment can be improved. Since 1979 the derelict land programme has funded the reclamation of more than 13,000 hectares of derelict land. I expect that, in the course of 1990–91, about 400 schemes producing an additional 1,200 hectares of reclaimed land will be completed. The resources available for 1990–91 should be sufficient to enable about 1,500 hectares of land to be reclaimed. The programme is thus continuing to make a real contribution to the reclamation process.
As in previous years, more than 90 per cent. of derelict land grant resources will be allocated to the north and midlands. I have given priority to the north-west and Yorkshire and Humberside where some of the most extensive and persistent dereliction is found; and to the west midlands where there is a need to fund continued investigative and remedial work on old limestone workings in the black country.
Overall my allocations include more than £12 million for treating dereliction arising from coal mining, thus maintaining the level of support given in last year's allocation.
637WI am approving new rolling programmes of reclamation for the joint local authority initiatives in east Manchester and Tameside, and north Staffordshire. I am also approving programmes for Oldham, Wakefield and Kerrier.
Following the first round of triennial rolling programme reviews carried out last year, I have decided to discontinue rolling programme status for north-east Lancashire but to transfer Hyndburn, where much remains to be done, to the existing Leeds and Liverpool canal corridor rolling programme. The other programmes or major projects reviewed; Wigan, Normanby Park, the black country, Wirral and Corby will continue. The rolling programmes at Barrow (Project Furness) and Liverpool will be reviewed in the course of 1990.
The total provision made for the 16 rolling programmes approved for 1990–91 will be nearly £23 million.
At present the priorities for derelict land reclamation are set out in circular 28/85 "Reclamation and Reuse of Derelict Land". These stress the importance of schemes designed to reclaim urban, especially inner city, land for housing and industrial and commercial uses.
However, when choosing new schemes to support in 1990–91, the Department will take into account the changes to the existing priorities proposed by the Government following the review of derelict land policy published in September 1989. We want to ensure that, through these changes, the derelict land programme can play an even more effective part in reclaiming sites to improve the environment.
We are considering the responses to our proposals for change, and guidance setting out new objectives and priorities will be issued later this year.