§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage has been devoted to sand and gravel extraction in England and Wales since 1st January 1965.
§ Mr. OakesThe information requested is not available. The 1974 Survey of Derelict and Despoiled Land in England indicated that at 1st April 1974 there were 18,171 hectares—44,900 acres—of land affected by active sand and gravel workings and a further 15,230 hectares—37,630 acres—permitted for working but not then affected.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to 1st January 1965.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to grade 1 agricultural land since 1st January 1965;
(2) what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to grade 2 agricultural land since 1st January 1965;
(3) what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to grade 3 agricultural land since 1st January 1965.
§ Mr. OakesThe information requested is not available in my Department or the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total financial loss to local authorities in England and Wales due to the rate relief enjoyed by working sand and gravel pits during the financial year 1974–75;
(2) what is the estimated total financial loss to local authorities in England and Wales due to the rate relief enjoyed by working sand and gravel pits during the financial year 1975–76;
178W(3) if he will consider increasing the rate support grant in areas affected by gravel winning to compensate the local ratepayers for the loss of revenue due to the 50 per cent. rate relief.
§ Mr. OakesThe estimated reduction in the rateable value of the assessments for sand and gravel workings in valuation lists caused by the Mines and Quarries (Valuation) Order 1971 was £4.3 million at 1st April 1974 and £4.1 million at 1st April 1975. This does not result in a financial loss to local authorities, because the lower rateable value will automatically increase an authority's entitlement to the resources element of the Rate Support Grant.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied that present infilling and restoration methods are capable of restoring worked out sand and gravel pits to useful agricultural production; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what studies have been made of the long-term effects of present methods of infilling and restoring wet sand and gravel pits to agricultural use.
§ Mr. OakesPresent methods do not always succeed. For this reason, experiments into the best means of restoring high quality land to agricultural are being undertaken in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Sand and Gravel Association.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to extend the rating period on sand and gravel pits to cover restoration.
§ Mr. OakesWe have no plans to amend the law in this respect, but in certain circumstances a sand or gravel pit will be beneficially occupied during restoration, and will therefore be rateable.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated loss in food production due to sand and gravel working in England and Wales during the years 1975–1985.
§ Mr. StrangI have been asked to reply. I regret that this information is not available.