§ 25. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the local legislation Bills now before Parliament, and the amount of agricultural land which is being yearly lost to agriculture through the urbanisation of rural areas and the spreading of big towns; and whether he will in future include in annual agricultural statistics the number of acres lost to agriculture on this account?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)I am aware that a certain amount of agricultural land is lost to agriculture each year through various causes, including those mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend. Owing to the difficulties experienced hitherto in getting accurate information on the subject it has not been possible to publish any reliable statistics. I am keeping the matter under review, but I cannot hold out much hope of being able to meet my hon. and gallant Friend's wishes.