§ 85. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what proportion of the 462,000 acres of agricultural land, estimated to have been lost to food production in the 10 years 1948–57, was acquired by public authorities, including the nationalised industries, possessing compulsory powers; and whether it is the policy of the Government to slow down this rate of acquisition.
§ Mr. BrookeNo information is available showing what proportion of this acreage was acquired by public authorities. It is the Government's policy to discourage the uneconomic use of land, but not to restrict legitimate social and economic needs. Nearly half of the acreage mentioned went for afforestation.