§ 14. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the amount of agricultural land which will be surrendered for industrial or housing development in the current year; and if he 1387 will give the acreage of agricultural land which was taken in this way in the years 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.
§ 30. Sir D. Rentonasked the Minister of Agriclture, Fisheries and Food how much agricultural land has gone out of production during each of the past three years owing to development; and how much is estimated will be taken this year and next year.
§ Mr. John MackieThe loss of agricultural land to urban and industrial development in England and Wales was approximately 42,000 acres in 1964–65, 42,500 acres in 1965–66, 50,000 acres in 1966–67 and 35,000 acres in 1967–68. I cannot make any precise estimate for this year and next, but I would not expect it to go very wide of these ranges.
§ Mr. SmithWhatever the demands of housing and industry, are not we, as a comparatively small island, engaged on a rake's progress in the amount of agricultural land that we are allowing to be swallowed up? Is it not time the Government did something positive to protect agricultural land?
§ Mr. MackieI agree with the hon. Gentleman, but he must appreciate that we have a population of about 55 million, which is rising. If he has any suggestions for housing them and for providing them with roads, schools, playing fields and so on, except by some use of agricultural land, I will welcome his proposals.