§ 59. Earl Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that hundreds of acres of land, which had reverted to scrub or was derelict woodland, have recently been successfully bull-dozed for reversion to food prodution in the Weald of Surrey and West Sussex by various owners; and if, in view of the amount of such derelict land still remaining, he will call the attention of the agricultural executive committees to the matter.
Mr. T. WilliamsYes, Sir, I am fully alive to the fact that reclamation work has been carried out by owners or occupiers of scrub-land and derelict woodland during recent years in the interests of food production. The attention of county agricultural executive committees has already been called to the possibility of bringing this type of land into fuller production, and under the marginal production scheme a limited amount of financial assistance for this purpose is available to occupiers of farms.
§ Earl WintertonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that despite the somewhat pontifical statements by leaders of agriculture about the productivity of British land, which applies, of course, to land actually in cultivation, it is a national scandal that within 60 miles of London there is more unoccupied land than there is near any other capital in Europe? Will he look into the matter?
Mr. WilliamsThe noble Lord will be aware that on 23rd March, 1950, I announced that a scheme was being extended for allowances to be given to occupiers of farms containing areas of live scrub and woodland which could be readily converted into grassland and tillage.
§ Mr. Anthony GreenwoodWould my right hon. Friend go so far as to support the destruction of coverts used for the preservation of foxes?