§ 53. Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he intends to define the agricultural land that must not be used for building sites adjacent to towns and cities which are expected to have a housing overspill.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsMy right hon. Friend's rural land utilisation officers are in close and constant touch with the regional planning officers of the Ministry of Town and Country Planning. Full information about agricultural considerations, including the quality of land, is made available to planning authorities in order to avoid, wherever possible, the diversion of productive agricultural land to building and other industrial development.
§ Mr. BossomIs the Minister aware that a good many local authorities are very anxious to increase their rateable value, and that there is a great temptation to use this agricultural land? Will he try to make this impossible?
§ Mr. WilliamsMy right hon. Friend, as my hon. Friend may be aware, does not possess powers, except temporary powers under Defence Regulation 51 for food production, to prevent the development of good agricultural land. But, by agreement with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Town and Country Planning, wherever the use of good agricultural land can be avoided, such influences are brought to bear.
§ Mr. BossomWould my right hon. Friend do his best to make this information as widespread as possible? I can name certain places where this is being actually done, or is being considered at the moment.
§ Mr. WilliamsI hope my hon. Friend's questions and my replies will get the publicity they deserve.