§ Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture what acreage of good agricultural land is still occupied owing to varied military and supply requirements; and what steps are taken by the Ministry to ensure that so far as possible such land is progressively returned to agriculture.
Mr. HudsonThe total area of land in England and Wales held under Defence Regulation 51 as at 30th June last by the War Department was 428,000 acres, and by the Supply Departments 35,500 acres. The former figure includes substantial portions of park, scrub, waste and recreation land, but I regret I have no information as to the exact proportions. It does not include the land used under Defence Regulation 52 for Military Training. As regards the second part of the Question, my Department is in consultation with the War Department with a view to returning to agricultural use as soon as possible those areas which are nn longer required for military purposes.