HC Deb 10 October 1944 vol 403 c1579W
Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Agriculture the area of land owned by his Department in each of the years 1914, 1924, 1934 and on the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. T. Williams

The area of land owned by my right. hon. Friend's Department in the years mentioned was as follow:

  • 1914— 227 acres.
  • 1924— 15,536 acres.
  • 1934— 11,070 acres.
  • At the present time— 14,071 acres.

Included in the above figures are certain lands which have been purchased by my right hon. Friend's Department, of which the title is for legal reasons vested in other Government Departments. Lands of which possession has been taken in exercise of the Minister's powers under Defence Regulation 51 are excluded, except where they have been subsequently acquired under Section 9 of the Agricultural (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1941.