§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish his Department's response to the consultation regarding compulsory purchase orders. [139936]
§ Ms Beverley HughesConsideration is currently being given to the recommendations of the advisory group which conducted a review of the laws and procedures relating to compulsory purchase and compensation, published on 27 July, and comments received on that report. The Urban White Paper (Cmnd 4911), published on 16 November, sets out on pages 58 and 59 the action we propose to take in the short term. We hope to make a policy statement setting out the Government's proposals for longer-term reform, in response to the recommendations made in the review and comments on them, including proposals for legislation, early next year.