§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department intends to publish proposals for changes to the law relating to compulsory purchase; and if his proposals will include a wider power for local authorities to purchase empty homes. [56701]
§ Mr. RaynsfordAn interim report of the fundamental review of compulsory purchase and compensation will be submitted at the end of the year. This will set out recommendations as to changes which can be made in the short term to deliver increased speed, efficiency and fairness to the operation of the system, as well as outlining longer term options for changes to primary legislation. It is too early to predict what recommendations might be forthcoming, although I can confirm that the remit for the review embraces the range of local authorities' compulsory purchase powers, including those relating to housing.