§ 3. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will ensure that development under the Town Development Act, 1952, takes place on land which is below average in agricultural quality, rather than on agricultural land which is of average or above average quality.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanArrangements already exist to ensur that wherever possible good agricultural land is not taken for development. Authorities carrying out town development have to obtain planning permission in the usual way, and there is full consultation with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
§ Mr. HiggsWill my right hon. Friend ensure that, in cases where development looks likely to be started on good agricultural land, he will use to the full the wide scope given to him in the Town Development Act to search further afield for sites where agricultural land is not so productive?
§ Mr. MacmillanYes, Sir, we always try to keep in balance these two considerations—the need for land and the need for houses.