Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 23rd June, 1961
Local Government
Compulsory Purchase
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has considered the statement of the President of the Birmingham and District Property Owners' Association, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Yardley, regarding compulsory purchase orders; and if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the administration of compulsory purchase by local authorities.
I have considered this statement. But it is at the discretion of the acquiring authority whether to use the services of the district valuer or to employ their own valuer in their negotiations for purchase, and I think that this is a matter which it is proper that authorities should decide for themselves.The owner's safeguard is to employ his own valuer, and he has a right to refer questions of compensation to the Lands Tribunal.
Roads
Classified Road Schemes
asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that no classified road scheme of over £300,000 has yet been considered for authorisation in respect of a number of county boroughs, including that of Bournemouth, for any of the years 1961–62, 1962–63, and 1963–64; and what additional grant or grants of this order will be made in respect of these years in the near future.
I have included in the first three year programme notified to highway authorities those classified road schemes which appeared to command the highest priority throughout the country. I regret that it was not possible to include all schemes submitted. I shall be considering the programme for 1964–65 later this year.
National Finance
Pound Sterling (Purchasing Value)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the pound sterling as 20s. in October 1951, it had declined to 18s. 4d. in May, 1953, and to 16s. 1d. in May, 1957; and what was the comparable figure for May, 1961, on the basis of the retail price index.
Yes, on the basis of the retail price index. The comparable figure for May, 1961 is 14s. 9d.
Ministry Of Power
Wilson Committee's Recommendations
asked the Minister of Power what further action he has taken on the Report of the Wilson Committee; and whether he will make a statement.
The Wilson Committee was asked to make recommendations about the direction of further research and development work on promising processes for making gas, oil and chemicals from coal, and the type of organisation or organisations best suited to carry out such work.I accept the Committee's view that in this field town gas offers the greatest scope for expansion, but that to make this possible, new plants will have to make gas more cheaply than existing ones. I have therefore decided, in agreement with the Gas Council and the National Coal Board, to accept the Committee's recommendations that:
I also accept the Committee's view that the prospects of making oil from coal economicalily in this country are so remote that no further technological work on the development of this process should be undertaken at present. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has consequently wound up its development work on this process, but in accordance with the Committee's recommendations it is continuing basic studies on catalysis and is keeping in touch with developments in making oil from coal.
My Department has been carrying out research and development on the slagging gasification of coal as a means of providing the raw material for oil synthesis. The Committee recognised the potential value of slagging gasification for making town gas and considered that the Gas Council should be responsible for the whole of the development work on slagging gasifiers. At the same time the Committee recognised that it would be difficult for the Gas Council to take over immediate responsibility for the work sponsored by my Department. I have therefore arranged for the work to be continued by my Department until 31st March, 1962, when the Gas Council will become responsible for all work on this subject.
The total gasification of coal is a matter of great concern to the National Coal Board which is anxious to do all it can, in co-operation with the Gas Council to promote its development. The Gas Council and the National Coal Board are making a joint economic study of the possibilities of the Lurgi process, which might later be extended to include slagging gasification. This study will help to define the scope for further development of the process and provide a basis for further co-operation between the Gas Council and the Board in the field of total gasification.