§ Mr. M. MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of Scottish agricultural land put out of cultivation by opencast coal working have not been brought back into cultivation after opencast operations have ceased; and what steps he is taking to ensure that as much as possible of this land will be in agricultural use this year.
§ Mr. J. StuartThere are 1,154 acres of agricultural land in Scotland on which production of opencast coal has ceased but which have not yet been handed over to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland for cultivation. The areas concerned are in various stages of restoration and every effort is being made by the102W Ministry of Fuel and Power to hasten this work so far as weather conditions make this practicable and desirable.