§ 81. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware of the rate at which good agricultural land is being encroached on for other purposes, including building, Services training, opencast mining and planting by the Forestry Commission; and if he will set up a committee to go into the whole question of land utilisation with a view to ensuring that a correct balance is struck between the need for maximum food production at home and other national requirements.
§ Mr. KingUnder existing arrangements any proposal for the diversion of land to non-agricultural use is carefully considered in the light of the views of the Ministry of Agriculture upon it. Special investigations are carried out where required, but in view of the wide diversity of the issues involved my right hon. Friend does not think there would be any advantage in adopting the suggestion in the second part of the Question.