§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much land he estimates will be lost to farming in North Bedfordshire through gravel working during the next 20 years.
§ Mr. MacCollI am afraid I cannot make a useful estimate. We can estimate, very roughly, how much sand and gravel is likely to be needed in South-East England over the next 20 years, but our information about reserves, including reserves under the sea, is increasing all the time, and I cannot predict how much of the demand will be met from particular places. Nor can I estimate how much land will be used for gravel working and then restored to farming.
§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much land he estimates has been lost to farming in North Bedfordshire through gravel working.
§ Mr. MacCollBy the end of 1966 about 900 acres of land in North Bedfordshire had been used for gravel working. Of this figure about 140 acres have so far been restored to agriculture.