HC Deb 08 November 1948 vol 457 c152W
Commander Noble

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has examined the feasibility of encouraging the growth of crops on the verges of by-pass roads.

Mr. G. Brown

Yes, but there are many practical difficulties. The presence of electric and telephone cables, gas mains, drains, etc., at shallow depth often prevents ploughing, while the verges are in many cases too narrow to permit effective cultivation. Moreover, such cultivation is rarely economic. C.A.E.C.s have, however, been asked to co-operate whenever farmers with adjacent land are prepared to bring suitable roadside land into cultivation.