Clause 74 - Basic loss payment
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold, Conservative)
I must ask the Minister—with the greatest good will, because she has been very courteous in her responses—for a little more financial information. Will she write to each Committee member and put a note in the Library about the direction of the trend for compulsory purchase? She
did not tell us that when we discussed clause 73, and she has now mentioned the loss payments under clauses 74 and 75—I assume that she meant both, as she did not make that clear. In doing the arithmetic, she must have estimated the number of properties to be acquired. It would be useful to hear what the trend has been in the past five years and where the Government think it will go under these new, simplified and accelerated procedures. Will it increase, as one would expect? I would be grateful if the Minister would respond, perhaps in writing.
The Minister mentioned clause 77 and the updating powers. It is in the nature of such matters for there to be a lag in updating them. I am not concerned about the percentages, because those will increase as the value of the property increases, but the maximum figures should be updated, particularly for those in low-value properties who will benefit most from the owners' loss payments and basic loss payments. Will the Minister clarify that matter, if not now, in writing?
I shall not urge my colleagues to vote against the clause. As the Minister says, the payment is in addition to the existing compulsory purchase payment for the value and disturbance. We therefore welcome it. It becomes less generous as one approaches clause 75, but we shall debate that when we come to it.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 74 ordered to stand part of the Bill.