§ 30. Mr. BUXTONasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps, legisla- 18 tive or otherwise, towards carrying out a survey designed to ascertain the extent to which agricultural land in England and Wales is under-cultivated, in view of existing economic possibilities?
Mr. WOODThe survey which is suggested by the right hon. Gentleman would present. exceptional difficulties in execution, especially in view of the fact that the interpretation of the expression "under-cultivated" must. be largely, if not entirely, a matter of opinion. For this reason, while fully alive to the desirability of obtaining information as exact as possible on this matter, I am unable to give the undertaking the right hon. Gentleman desires.
§ Mr. BUXTONIn spite of these difficulties, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the degree of under-cultivation is so serious as to demand an inquiry of some kind?
Mr. WOODI have already said that I am fully alive to the desirability of having full information, and if the right hon. Gentleman can suggest any way of overcoming these difficulties I shall be only too happy to consider it with him.