HC Deb 22 May 1975 vol 892 cc1591-2
3. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give advice on the continued use of agricultural land as such which is obtained by compulsory purchase by local authorities or under the proposed community land legislation before that land is taken up by the local authority for development.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Gavin Strang)

Local authorities already acquire land under existing powers and are aware of the need to manage it effectively prior to development. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Wales will be giving further advice as necessary to all authorities acquiring land under the community land scheme.

Mr. Shepherd

Is the Minister aware that local authorities exercising their duties under the Community Land Bill will control approximately 750,000 acres at the current loss rate of 75,000 acres a year? Does he not agree that the short-term usage of land and inability to plan for land so blighted by local authority acquisition will not help the production of food from our own resources and will make nonsense of the Government's White Paper? Does he not further agree that there is a fundamental incompatability between the policy of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and that of the Secretary of State for the Environment on the question of land acquisition?

Mr. Strang

No, I cannot accept the bulk of what the hon. Gentleman has said although I agree that where land is scheduled for development it is desirable and in the national interest that it should be retained in agricultural production until the last possible day.

Mr. Graham Page

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that unless he persuades his right hon. Friend the Minister for Planning and Local Government to remove agricultural land entirely from the sphere of the Community Land Bill, it will be disastrous for agriculture?

Mr. Strang

I cannot accept that. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will recognise that a substantial proportion of land which has been developed in the past has been agricultural land, and that situation will continue in the future. That problem will remain with us.

Mr. McNamara

Is my hon. Friend aware that many local authorities already possess agricultural land and have a very good record in its management?

Mr. Strang

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. That is indeed the case. Under the Community Land Bill there will be greater scope for them to deploy these resources.