HC Deb 08 December 1949 vol 470 cc167-8W
47. Mr. Vane

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can yet make a statement on the slowing-down in the acquisition of agricultural land as one of the proposed economies.

Mr. T. Williams:

As stated in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 2nd November, the proposed economies referred to preliminary estimates of my Department's expenditure which would have reflected the cost of developing as well as maintaining present services. As part of this decision the purchases of land under the powers conferred upon me by the Agriculture Act, 1947, will proceed more slowly than previously contemplated but I am not in a position to make a statement giving details.

wars and the following figures of felling are the best estimate which can be made. They are based on the Census of Woodlands in 1924, and on the Census recently undertaken. The figures of reafforestation include areas replanted by the Forestry Commission and an estimate of planting and replanting undertaken by private owners. It is not possible to make a separate estimate of private replanting.