48. Brigadier-General BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture the average yearly acreage of agricultural land, over a period of the last 10 years, which has been lost to agriculture by being built upon or absorbed by local authorities, or by local legislation, for schemes of planning, development, drainage, etc.; and whether he will in future procure that information for inclusion in the annual agricultural statistics?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI regret that the information desired is not available. With regard to the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, I may say that in accordance with a promise given to him by my predecessor on 21st July, 1930, the question raised has been fully considered, but no satisfactory method of obtaining the information has so far been devised.
Brigadier-General BROWNDoes not my right hon. Friend think it is very important that the amount of agricultural land which is going out of cultivation, not on account of the industry but on account of building development, should be known?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt all depends on whether it is worth the cost which it would entail.