§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what figures he has which relate to the growth of productivity of agricultural land in England and Wales; and whether he will demonstrate the trend over the past five years;
(2) to what extent the acquisition of agricultural land for building and other purposes has been offset by increased productivity of such land in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Strang:About 65,000 acres a year of agricultural land were given up in England and Wales for building and other purposes, except transfer to forestry and woodlands, in the five years 1968–69 to 1972–73. Figures of agricultural productivity are not available for England and Wales alone but agricultural net product at constant prices in the United Kingdom rose by 21 per cent. during this period.