§ Sir C. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will break down the figures of net decreases in agricultural area of England and Wales so as to bring up to date the table given in reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Newbury (Sir A. Hurd) on 4th May, 1959.
78W
NET DECREASES IN THE AGRICULTURAL AREA OF ENGLAND AND WALES Year Building and General Constructional Development Sports Grounds Miscellaneous* Total Acres Acres Acres Acres War Years: 1939/40–1941/42 … 41,000 +26,600 387,400 401,800 1942/43–1944/45 … 50,100 + 400 221,600 271,300 Total … 91,100 +27,000 609,000 673,100 Average per year … 15,200 + 4,500 101,500 112,200 Post-war Years 1945/46–1947/48 … 108,100 26,000 + 149,300 + 15,200 1948/49–1950/51 … 84,300 24,700 + 39,800 69,200 1951/52–1953/54 … 98,500 10,100 + 17,100 91,500 1954/55–1956/57 … 106,900 9,200 + 10,000 106,100 1957/58 … 27,800 2,500 + 5,200 25,100 1958/59 … 34,300 2,400 + 1,600 35,100 Total … 459,900 74,900 +223,000 (a) 311,800 Average per year … 32,800 5,400 + 15,900 22,300 * The expression "miscellaneous" used in Cmd. 6378 (Report of the Committee on Land Utilisation in Rural Areas) refers mainly to certain Government Departments, Service and Civil, but excluding the Forestry Commission. Plus figures indicate net recoveries. (a) In the post-war period (1945/46–1958/59) the information derived from the agricultural returns recorded increases of 387,500 acres as being recovered from Government Departments, and decreases of 164,500 acres as being transferred to Government Departments. locations of these houses, by counties, are given below. One house is to be provided by a housing authority at the request of the Commission.
§ Mr. HareThe table given below includes the figures for 1958–59, the latest year available. The estimates exclude land which has been converted to allotments, woodlands and forestry development. Over the twenty years to 1958–59, the area of land transferred to these latter uses totalled 419,000 acres.