Mr Arthur Skeffington: If the hon. Gentleman is rising to ask whether flats or houses are likely to go up, no one can possibly say what the effect will be until the evidence has been produced, valuations are completed, and matters have been tested. My point is that many flat occupiers thought that, because of the scarcity of rental evidence, their assessments had been pushed up to make up for the lack of...
Mr Arthur Skeffington: We have had discussions with the Commission for New Towns and Development Corporations about the Report's recommendations for increasing opportunities for owner-occupation in new towns. We will also talk with the local authorities. I am not yet in a position to make a further statement on the future of new town assets.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: I am very well aware of the difficulties mentioned in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. The answer to the second part is that the arrangement has been that if a house in the circumstances to which he referred is to go back to the authority who have reserved the right to repurchase, then it goes back at a figure which has been agreed between the tenant and the...
Mr Arthur Skeffington: My right hon. Friend's policy remains to consider each appeal on its merits.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: What I said remains quite true. My right hon. Friend must consider each case on its merits. At the same time, he has to ensure that there is sufficient building land to cater for the requirements in the Home Counties.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: As the hon. Member may be aware, it is not the practice of Ministers to make predictions about the future level of interest rates. Local authorities in fact receive very substantial help towards meeting interest charges through the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, the rate support grants and various specific grants.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: I am not aware of the situation which the hon. Member describes. I was drawing attention to the fact that massive help is available under the Housing Subsidies Act—far more help than has ever been given > before under any Administration—and that the contribution from the Exchequer is 56 per cent. of the total local government expenditure.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: No, Sir. There are powers in the Town and Country Planning Acts under which the use of residential premises for industrial purposes may be controlled; and in the Public Health Acts, recently strengthened, to secure the abatement of noise and vibration where this amounts to a statutory nuisance.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: If my hon. Friend could show me any breach of the regulations by way of nuisance I should like to look into it. Excessive noise ought to be dealt with under the Public Health Acts.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: The policy of Her Majesty's Government continues to be the maximum protection of the countryside commensurate with the needs of essential development. In this respect, the recent Countryside Act and the Town and Country Planning Act will enable policy to be effectively applied.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: If the hon. Gentleman studies, as I am sure he has studied, the two Acts to which I have referred, he will find that they give new powers, particularly in relation to strategic planning, whereby there is a much greater chance of keeping that balance between town and country. But these matters are always being looked at by the Department to see how far we may improve the situation.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: Following the public exhibition last year, discussions have been taking place between the developers' architects, the Greater London Council and Westminster City Council with a view to the submission of an application for planning permission.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: I cannot give any estimates. I agree that the delay is unfortunate. Anything that the Department can do to assist in the matter, it is doing.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: Outline planning permission was given by the City Corporation for the redevelopment of this site in 1964. Detailed proposals are now being considered by the City and I am in touch with them. I can assure the hon. Member that a decision will not be taken without my being given an opportunity to consider whether or not to call in the proposals for decision by the Minister.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: I am not sure that one can create a particular planning procedure only for this particular site, but I agree with the hon. Lady that this is a particularly sensitive spot and that the greatest possible care must be taken about its future development.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: My right hon. Friend is desirous of arranging the inquiry as soon as possible, but must await a submission from the G.L.C. with possible amendments to the proposals before him.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: ; I appreciate my hon. Friend's concern about this matter and that it has gone on for a very long time. This has been one of the difficulties, particularly before we had the new powers in the 1968 Act, but the G.L.C. hopes to advertise its proposals shortly and we may have them by next month.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: Land is liable to rates only when it is beneficially occupied. The commercial extraction of useful material from tips has been held in some cases to be beneficial occupation for this purpose. The effects of rating upon the extraction of shale are under consideration.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: The hon. Member may like to know that I have met representatives of the industry and asked them for detailed figures so that if a case can be made on economics to do this essential work it may be considered.
Mr Arthur Skeffington: Local authorities may have no option when rates are involved. What we have to do is to establish the facts. That is what I am trying to do.