HL Deb 09 July 1974 vol 353 cc463-5

3.4 p.m.

LORD VERNON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will initiate research into the desirability of reclaiming for agricultural use the Maplin Sands and other suitable areas of seabed off the shores of the United Kingdom.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, some limited research into the feasibility of land reclamation is undertaken under the auspices of the Natural Environment Research Council. The available evidence indicates clearly that the cost of reclaiming the Maplin Sands and other major seabed areas is disproportionate to the value of such land for agriculture.

LORD VERNON

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he appreciates that it is rather difficult to reconcile it with the Answer that I was given in a Written Reply that I received, to the effect that no information was available on this subject?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, if the noble Lord is saying that the Written Answer came from me, then I apologise. I will look again at the Question to see whether I can give him more information. As it is, I can give him quite a lot of information about the use of land and the advantages of developing marshy land, for example, as against that under sea water.

LORD VERNON

My Lords, before the Government finally make up their minds, will they consult the Government of the Netherlands who since the war have reclaimed so much land, to the great advantage of their country?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, so far as the Maplin Sands are concerned, I understand that to reclaim an area of 8,000 acres about £110 million would be required. In Holland they are dealing with an entirely different situation, with land which at one time was under cultivation, land which is not covered by deep water and land which can be reclaimed by the polder process which would not be possible outside of the Eastern coastline.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the increasing population density of many parts of the British Isles argues for a policy towards coastal land reclamation supported by such Governmental incentives as are now available for those who clear derelict land which is inland?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I would not dispute that with the noble Earl. Something has been done; 2,000 acres have been reclaimed from the Wash. The noble Earl ought not overlook what we are doing in the matter of regeneration of grassland on hills. Since January, 1971, 567,000 acres have been treated and brought into full production. In the case of land cleared of scrub and woodland, nearly 41,000 acres have been claimed since 1971. So much is being done to bring more land into cultivation in this country, and it can be done much more effectively with greater cost/benefit than in the case of land beyond our coastline.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I put this further question? Would the Government consider that as a general matter of policy it may be to the British advantage to set in hand a programme to encourage coastline reclamation in the same way as there is a programme to encourage clearance of derelict land in our industrial centres?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, there is a case for looking at this and, as I said, a certain amount of research is being done by the Ecological Research Station at Colney in Norfolk. But I ask the noble Earl not to overlook the fact that we are draining about a quarter of a million acres a year; that is equivalent to an area the size of Bedfordshire. Our investment is probably yielding a better return there than it would be in reclaiming land from the sea.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, if my noble friend is able to say that the Government do not intend to proceed with the Maplin Airport, will he give consideration to the following proposal: that the original acreage of sea should be reclaimed and used as land, and that that land should then be used either under a town development corporation or by sale of long leaseholds to private enterprise development companies, to create the most beautiful maritime garden city in the world?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, no doubt that opens up an interesting prospect, but the supplementary question would be better reserved until after the Statement which I expect will be made later this month about the Maplin project.

LORD MACKIE

My Lords, would the Minister agree that before paying for the reclamation of land it is more important to re-establish confidence among the farmers who are already farming land into which the Government may have put money, without knowing what the price of beef is going to be? Would he agree that perhaps the bottom of the market there is much more important?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the noble Lord has a very good point. If he cares to put it down on the Order Paper as a Question I will answer it.