HC Deb 03 June 1991 vol 192 cc53-4W
Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether, when the line of the widening of the M20 between junctions 3 and 5 is published, those of the dwellings that have been acquired by his Department in connection with this widening scheme will be resold to individual home-owners as quickly as possible where they are situated outside the line of the scheme;

(2) when the dwellings that have been acquired by his Department in connection with the widening of the M20 between junctions 3 and 5 will be resold to individual home owners.

Mr. Chope

Dwellings that are clearly surplus to requirements will be released for sale as soon as the preferred scheme has been announced. Where there is some doubt, the properties will be retained until all the necessary statutory procedures have been completed. In both cases, the dwellings will be released subject to the expiry of any tenancies then in force.

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what form of tenure, conferring what degree of security of tenure, the dwellings in his Department's ownership between junctions 3 and 5 of the M20 are currently being occupied.

Mr. Chope

Dwellings are currently let on two-year fixed-term tenancies with vacant possession on expiration of the term, unless extended by agreement.

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the line of the M20 widening scheme between junctions 3 and 5, and when he expects construction of this widening to start and to be completed.

Mr. Chope

I hope to make an announcement about the form of widening for the M20 motorway between junctions 3 and 5 in the summer. The programme thereafter will depend to a large extent on the public's reaction to the proposals and the need for statutory procedures, including any public inquiry. Recent experience of other widening schemes suggests that construction could start by 1995 with completion two years later.

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many dwellings between junctions 3 and 5 of the M20 have now been acquired by his Department; and how many more he expects will be acquired in connection with the widening scheme between junctions 3 and 5.

Mr. Chope

Between junctions 3 and 5 of the M20, 193 dwellings have been acquired by the Department. A further 89 are in the process of acquisition. I cannot forecast how many more properties may be acquired.

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the dwellings that have been acquired by his Department between junctions 3 and 5 of the M20 are being managed by(a) the North British housing association, (b) the Tonbridge and Mailing housing association and (c) others.

Mr. Chope

All the dwellings acquired between junctions 3 and 5 of the M20 are being managed by the North British housing association.