§ Sir Keith SpeedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has so far been made by the interdepartmental committee on compensation for property affected by rail and road schemes. [2000]
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many submissions he has received on the consultation paper on blight arising from major infrastructure projects; [5238]
(2) when he expects the interdepartmental working group on blight to report; and what plans he has to bring forward proposals to implement its recommendations. [5239]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordI have today placed in the Library a copy of the progress report of the interdepartmental working group on blight.
This group, which was set up in March, published a discussion paper in June. Sixty-one responses were received. A sub-group held discussions with officials in France, Germany and the Netherlands, and further briefing was received in respect of Belgium, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, the USA and Japan.
The Halifax building society has been invited to undertake a study into trends in property prices in areas which have experienced major infrastructure developments. Work on this study is in hand. A further study, commissioned in October 1995, into the operation of compulsory purchase procedures concludes this month. The group will be considering the final report of this study to see how its findings might inform the group's own work.
The group is now considering a range of options for changes to law and practice. Their consideration will include an assessment both of direct costs of implementing change, and of the wider implications for compulsory acquisition and compensation. I have asked that the final report should be submitted as early as possible in the new year. Any changes which we might propose to existing law and practice would be subject to consultation in the usual way.