§ Mr. W. Robertsasked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of land have been taken over in the County of Cumberland for purposes of war or defence by Government Departments in the course of the last three years; and whether, in view of the need for home production of food, he will prevent good productive land being taken as sites for hutments in areas where inferior land is available?
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§ Mr. RamsbothamI am informed that 3,060 acres of land in Cumberland have been acquired by the Defence Departments during the last three years. My right hon. Friend will continue to press upon the Departments the urgent necessity of avoiding the acquisition of good agricultural land, but defence requirements sometimes render it necessary for agricultural considerations to be overridden by the Defence Department concerned, with whom the final decision and responsibility must rest.