asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet given his consent to the acquisition by the Land Commission of 200 acres of building land at Wokingham.

Acquisitions by the Land Commission do not need my right hon. Friend's consent unless the Commission have to seek his authority to make a compulsory purchase order. They have not so far sought this authority.

I welcome the hon. Member to his new job, in which we intend to roast him if he has to answer for the Land Commission. When an application is made to him in respect of 300 acres adjoining a town which is already expanding at 7 per cent. a year, will he defer to the views of the local authority, who are responsible for the services required to make the houses livable in?

I thank the hon. Member for that qualified welcome, although I regret to note that in matters affecting the Land Commission there will not be that degree of objectivity from the hon. Member and his hon. Friends which we should like to see. In other words, the questions will not be debated on their merits. Certainly the views of the local authorities will be fully taken into account by my right hon. Friend.