§ 1. Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to preserve the maximum amount of good agricultural land in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Gavin Strang)In accordance with the planning procedures local planning authorities are required by article 15 (1) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977 to refer to my Department all proposals which could result in the development of 10 or more acres of agricultural land. These references are made only where the proposals do not accord with development plans.
§ Mr. SmithIs the Minister aware that every five years agricultural land covering the equivalent of a county such as Warwickshire goes under concrete, and that more and more we are losing part of the precious heritage of this country? Does the Minister not think that it is time that there was much more co-opera- 686 tion among Government Departments to deal with the massive amount of derelict land which still exists in urban areas, so that it can be used rather than building being carried out on good agricultural land?
§ Mr. StrangIt is the Government's policy to minimise the loss of agricultural land. Co-ordinated with that is the policy which encourages authorities and private individuals to make the maximum use for development of land which does not have a high agricultural potential.
§ Mr. SpeakerMay I appeal for shorter supplementary questions so that we may cover more Questions?
§ Mr. Ronald AtkinsIs it not true that since the Second World War between 40,000 and 50,000 acres of agricultural land have been lost every year? Is my hon. Friend aware that in spite of the regulations this trend continues? Does he agree that it seems that we are less careful today than we were just after the Second World War?
§ Mr. StrangWe must keep this matter in perspective. The annual rate of loss is under 0.3 per cent. per annum. My hon. Friend will be the first to admit that many of the developments that take up new land are extremely valuable. They enable families which hitherto lived in tenements to occupy houses with gardens.
§ Mr. Charles MorrisonGiven the very proper emphasis on inner city redevelopment, and given population trends, which will show a fall or certainly a stabilisation in the population, may we be assured by the Minister that he will react very strongly against the references that are made to him which fall outside structure plans?
§ Mr. StrangI clearly have to consider each case on its merits, but I am glad of the hon. Gentleman's support for the Government's policy on the inner city areas.
§ Mr. WelshDoes the Minister agree that preservation of good farmland also means the improvement of existing farmland? Will he therefore reintroduce the lime subsidy, which produced great benefits in terms of productivity and land improvement?
§ Mr. StrangI know that a number of farmers would like the subsidy to be reintroduced. Good farmers, however, will apply lime because they take an interest in their land. Under the farm and horticultural development scheme it is possible to have a programme under which lime is subsidised.