§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister which cities have green belts; how large they were in 1997; what area they cover now; and what plans he has to enlarge green belt land. [115154]
§ Mr. McNultyIn 1997, the area covered by the 14 green belts in England was:
Hectares Tyne and Wear 53,000 York 35,400 South and West Yorkshire 251,300 North West 249,500 Stoke-on-Trent 44,100 Nottingham and Derby 62,000 Burton and Swadlincote 700 West Midlands 229,800 Cambridge 26,700 Gloucester and Cheltenham 7,000 Oxford 35,000 London 514,300 Avon 68,400 SW Hampshire and SE Dorset 82,300 Total 1,649,500 The Government remains committed to the protection of green belts. Since 1997, over 30,000 hectares has been added to the green belt. Our objective is to continue to maintain or increase the area of green belt land in each English region. The general extent of green belt will continue to be a matter for Regional Planning Guidance, with local planning authorities setting the precise boundaries.