CONDUCT OF LORD WHITTY, PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Early day motion 979, tabled 3 November 1999 by Jonathan Sayeed (Conservative). Signed by 4 members.

That this House notes that residents around Long Meadow Farm, Bedfordshire, owned by the Highways Agency, have suffered continual harassment as a result of the activities of the Exodus Collective, which has been squatting in Long Meadow Farm for two years; further notes that, on 25th October, Lord Whitty, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, wrote to the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire stating that, since the collective had failed after 18 months to pay a deposit and exchange contracts for the farm, the Highways Agency had concluded 'that the prospect of sale to the collective is no longer a realistic one' and that it would 'shortly' evict the collective; is appalled that, on 3rd November, only nine days later, the Minister wrote again stating that the eviction would not take place; believes that the Minister seriously misled residents in the area through his letter; regrets that his conduct in this respect fell seriously below that which the House has a right to expect of Ministers of the Crown, and calls on the Minister to resign forthwith.

Signatures by party: Conservative 4.