HC Deb 23 July 1990 vol 177 c63W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to seek to widen the powers of the local government ombudsman to include investigations of alleged maladministration by town and parish councils.

Derelict land in England 1982–1988
Hectares
Standard Region Area of derelict land at 1 April 1982 Area of derelict land at 1 April 1988 Net decrease/increase Area reclaimed 1 April 1982—1 April 1988
North 7,307 5,945 -1,362 2,472
North West 10,042 8,823 -1,219 3,671
Yorkshire and Humberside 5,431 6,145 714 2,055
West Midlands 5,787 5,575 -212 2,279
East Midlands 5,198 4,407 -791 1,586
East Anglia 804 593 -211 182
South West 6,635 5,827 -808 667
South East1 2,525 1,794 -731 607
Greater London 1,954 1,386 -568 494
England 45,683 40,495 -5,188 14,013
1 Excluding Greater London.

Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums from the European structural fund have been devoted since 1986 to the clearance of dereliction in South Yorkshire; and what action he is taking to ensure that this level of support is significantly measured.

Mr. Moynihan

Information is not readily available for schemes approved by the European Commission under the previous ERDF Regulations. No schemes for clearance of dereliction have been approved under the Yorkshire and Humberside steel area integrated development operation or the resider and non-quota measures for steel areas.