§ 44. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the proportion of agricultural land in Great Britain 535 which is owned by foreign nationals; and what are the recent and prospective trends.
§ Mr. John MackieI have no information on which to base such an estimate.
§ Mr. HillOught not the Minister to have a clear idea about this? Is he aware that at the moment we appear to know less about land ownership in this country than we knew 900 years ago, at the time of the Domesday Book? Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that our entry into the Common Market will act as a powerful stimulus to land buying in this country? In view of the side effects of this on sovereignty and so on, should not the hon. Gentleman be studying this problem and formulating a policy about it?
§ Mr. MackieIf the hon. Gentleman will promise not to criticise us for employing more people to do it, then I will certainly consider his proposition.
§ Mr. MolloyIs not the real answer—to avoid all this embarrassment in relation to foreign nationals owning land in this and other countries—for the British people to own the land themselves, and should not we nationalise the land?
§ Mr. MackieThat might not be too bad a solution.