HC Deb 09 February 1972 vol 830 cc366-7W
Mr. Hicks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the years 1961, 1966 and 1971, or the most recent year for which statistics are available, the total land acreages with percentages in England and Wales used for agriculture, forestry, housing, industrial and commercial purposes, communications and other miscellaneous uses.

Mr. Peter Walker

Land acreages used for agriculture and forestry in England and Wales for the dates requested are:

Agricultural Land* Forestry Land
Million acres per cent. of total land Million acres per cent. of total land
1961 27.7 74.5 2.5 6.9
1966 27.4 73.8 2.7 7.2
1971 26.9 72.6 2.8 7.5
* Crops and grass plus rough grazing to which the owner has sole right, but excluding common grazing.

Statistics are not available relating to the national acreages of land used for housing, industrial and other purposes. The total amount of land in urban use in England and Wales is estimated at 3.6 million acres (9.6 per cent.) in 1950–51 and 4.3 million acres (11.6 per cent) in 1970.

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