§ Sir C. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures of the net decreases in agricultural area of England and Wales from 1939 up to the latest available date on account of building and other developments, including losses for the year 1958–59.
§ Mr. HareAccording to the agricultural returns, the total net decreases in the agricultural area of England and Wales in the twenty years from 1939–40 to 1958–59 were 524,000 acres on account of building, and 75,000 acres on account of other developments (i.e., sports grounds and, from 1953–54, mineral workings). The figures for the year 1958–59 were 27,700 acres and 8,900 acres respectively.