§ 55. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will provide details of agricultural land-use and aggre- 1898 gate farm production for the years 194749, inclusive, in respect of the 300 acres, approximately, of land edged in red on the Gybhouse, Greenway and Gorsthill site plans numbered, respectively, M/9/549/1, M/9/552/1 and M/9/554/1 in the parish of Rock in the Kidderminster Rural District of the County of Worcester; and whether he anticipates any change in the productivity of this area of land during the years 1950–52, inclusive.
Mr. T. WilliamsThis area includes parts of eight holdings and comprises some 46 acres of permanent pasture, 166 acres of arable, 61 acres of orchard and 7i acres of waste land. About 11 acres are fallow. I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing for the three years 1947 to 1949 the estimated total produce sold off the land or transferred to other parts of the holdings. So far as can be foreseen at present there is no reason to anticipate that the 1951 and 1952 production plans of the occupiers of this land will show any significant changes from the current pattern.
§ Mr. Nabarrois the Minister aware that the bulk of this land which, for the most part, is highly farmed, is now threatened by opencast coal mining activities? In view of the nature of the land, will be carefully consider refusing the agricultural clearance certificates for it and thus safeguarding essential food production?
§ Following is the statement:
§ Wheat 160 tons; oats 145 tons; other cereals 100 tons; milk 53,000 gallons; cattle 230; lambs 200; poultry 240; pigs 24; fruit and vegetables, no figures available.