HL Deb 24 July 1961 vol 233 c904WA
VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many acres of agricultural land in the United Kingdom have been utilised for building since the end of the War and how many acres of agricultural land have been inundated by reservoirs in the same period.

EARL WALDEGRAVE

I regret that complete figures are not available as to the area of agricultural land utilised for building since the end of the war, but such information as we have is given below. There are no figures for the area of agricultural land inundated by reservoirs.

England and Wales:

According to the agricultural returns, the net amount of agricultural land taken for building between June 1945 and June 1960 was 464.200 acres.

Scotland:

No information is available before 1951, but according to the agricultural returns the net amount of agricultural land taken for building and industrial development between June 1951 and June 1960 was 28,800 acres.

Northern Ireland:

It is estimated that since the end of the war some 10,000 acres have been taken for housing, and some 4,000 acres have been taken for industrial building.

House adjourned at twenty-eight minutes before seven o'clock.