§ 30. Mr. Leaveyasked the Minister of Transport the total acreage taken up by the M.1; and what proportion has been laid down to grass or young plantations.
§ Mr. HayThis motorway covers about 2,000 acres of land in all. About 51 per cent. of this area is occupied by features of the motorway which do not require to be paved, such as the cuttings, embankments, and the central reservation. These have been grassed or planted to harmonise with the surrounding countryside. A further 3 per cent. of the total area is being used solely for landscaping purposes, mainly with young plantations.
§ Mr. LeaveyIn view of the very considerable acreage that is laid down to grass on verges, can my hon. Friend say what general arrangements have been made to keep them tidy, and in particular what arrangements have been made to collect the hay harvest which will he available shortly?
§ Mr. HayWith regard to the second part of the supplementary question, the fact is that the areas put down to grass in this way are of such a character that I do not think we could expect to get much of a crop of hay from them. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put down the first part of his supplementary question as a Question on the Order Paper.