§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute a comprehensive inquiry into land use and arrange for a quinquennial land survey.
§ Mr. Graham PageNo. My Department is however discussing with local planning authorities the possibility of the early establishment of a system to monitor the annual change in land use. We are also analysing aerial surveys of urban development. We hope by means such as this to bring about a useful improvement in our knowledge in this field.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates have been made of the demand for land for urban expansion over the next decade; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Graham PageNo specific estimates have been made for the next decade. Broad estimates have been332W attempted, however, covering the remainder of the century. These indicate that urban expansion may require approximately 1.2 million acres by 2001. This would imply a rise in the proportion of the total area of England and Wales in urban use from about 11.6 per cent. in 1971 to about 14.8 per cent. in 2001.