asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to reduce the existence of large areas of industrial dereliction in the north-west.

My Department is funding through derelict land grant (which is payable at the rate of 100 per cent. to local authorities in most of the north-west) a large number of reclamation schemes designed both to return derelict land to beneficial use and to improve the general environment. In 1985–86, £25·1 million has been allocated for expenditure by local authorities in the north-west. In addition, grants will be made available to the private sector for land reclamation schemes.Between 1974 and 1982 over 4,200 hectares of derelict land were restored in the north-west, more than in any other region of England, though the task remains a large one.