asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated average cost per acre of clearing and restoring derelict land.

The average gross cost per acre of local authority derelict land reclamation schemes in England approved by the Department since 1st April, 1970, is £1,581, including land acquisition. Because of the great diversity of problems to be tackled, too much importance should not be placed on average costs of reclamation. Leaving aside very small schemes, gross costs per acre vary from about £100 to £30,000.