§ 67. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent agricultural land in Staffordshire has been appropriated for non-agricultural purposes in the past 12 months, two years, and five years, respectively.
§ Mr. NugentNo precise information is available of the area of agricultural land in Staffordshire that has been appropriated for non-agricultural purposes during the periods specified in the Question. The annual returns rendered by farmers, however, show that the total acreage of crops, grass and rough grazings in sole occupation in the county declined by 1,727 acres in the 12 months ended 4th June, 1952. Similar decreases in the two-year and five-year periods to that date were 1,903 and 5,320 acres, respectively. These figures take account of any land restored to agricultural use, for example by Service Departments, and are subject to some error.