§ 1. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps have been taken to preserve the green turf which is a distinctive feature of the South Downs.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Mr. J. R. Bevins)My right hon. Friend is aware that some of this land has been ploughed. He has no powers, nor would he wish to seek them, to control the ploughing of privately owned land. I understand that a number of owners, both public and private, have been taking steps to check the further spreading of scrub.
§ Captain PilkingtonDoes my hon. Friend agree that this is something which ought to be preserved in the national interest, that a good deal of it has been destroyed—indeed, too much—and will he at any rate do what he can from his office to see that more is preserved?
§ Mr. BevinsI agree that what my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind is most desirable, but, of course, most of this 958 land is privately owned and is not subject to planning control. To the extent that it is publicly controlled, we shall certainly encourage local authorities to see that scrub does not develop.