HC Deb 13 April 1964 vol 693 c15W
Miss Quennell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the loss of good agricultural land in England and Wales and in the area covered by the South East Study, respectively, over the past 10 years.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

The net reduction from all causes in the area of crops and grass, excluding rough grazing between June, 1953, and June, 1963, was 108,000 acres (0.44 per cent.) in England and Wales, and 47,000 acres (0.65 per cent.) in the area covered by the South East Study. I regret that there are no estimates of the quality of the land.