HC Deb 12 December 1938 vol 342 cc1637-8W
Mr. Johnston

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give approximately the extent, measured in acreage, of the land in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively, covered by publicly owned roads and footpaths?

Mr. Burgin

The mileage of roads which are publicly maintained is set out in Column 1 below; I have no precise information about the average widths of all roads but on the assumption which is necessarily very rough that the average width between fences is 30 feet, the approximate acreage would be that in Column 2 below:

Column 1 Approximate mileage. Column 2 Approximate acreage.
England … 134,840 490,327
Wales … 18,920 68,800
Scotland … 23,870 94,073
Total … 179,630 653,200

As regards footpaths, I have no information corresponding to that in Column i above and therefore I am not prepared to give any estimate.