§ 45. Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that the interests of conserving agricultural land are fully appreciated by local planning authorities; and whether he is aware that there is some anxiety in the West Midlands that marginal land, some of which may lie in the Birmingham green belt, is being preserved and good agricultural land in the near vicinity of towns and villages is threatened with re-designation to housing development.
§ Mr. MacCollLocal planning authorities are well aware of the need to conserve good agricultural land, and in the West Midlands as elsewhere they have to weigh this need against housing and other needs in the particular circumstance of each case.