HC Deb 22 February 1973 vol 851 cc178-9W
Sir D. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy as to the maximum further amount of land in England and Wales which can be spared and should be made available for development, bearing in mind the need to retain enough land to grow food for an increasing population, to provide open spaces for recreation and leisure, to conserve wild life and natural scenery and to grow timber.

Mr. Graham Page

The amount of land in urban use in England and Wales was about 11½per cent. of the total in 1970. It is estimated that this will rise to just over 15 per cent. by the end of the century.

An important object of our planning system is to control the use of land to secure the best use of our land resources for all purposes, including those mentioned by my right hon. and learned Friend.