§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many acres of agricultural land are lost annually in Wales to other users; and if he will specify with statistics the principal uses for which such land has been used and required.
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§ Mr. Barry JonesThe following are estimates of the average annual transfer of land out of agricultural use in Wales by principal uses:
Thousand Acres Urban, industrial and recreational development, including mineral workings 3.8 Forestry Commission and private woodlands 6.1 Land not previously recorded and other adjustments 4.3 Total 14.1 The estimates are based on the acreages returned by farmers in the agricultural census in June each year between 1968–69 and 1972–73. They have been adjusted to discount changes in the coverage of the census. The difference in the total is due to the rounding of the figures.