§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price of prime agricultural land in each county of England at the latest available date and at the same date on each of the last five years.
§ Mrs. FennerThe information requested is not available by county, but is shown below by region for the years for which data are available. Prime agricultural land has been taken as land in grades 1 and 2 as defined in the agricultural land classification of England and Wales. The data are based on sales of land where grades 1 or 2 predominate and therefore may contain an element representing lower grades.
All Properties, All Sales (£ per hectare) Ministry Regions *1978–79 *1979–80 Northern 2,550 4,024 Yorks/Lancs 2,738 3,753 East Midlands 3,087 4,415 West Midlands 2,732 4,555 Eastern 3,214 4,307 South East 2,671 3,582 South West 2,669 3,239 ENGLAND 2,909 4,049
Standard Statistical Regions *1980–81 * 1981–82 Northern † † North West 3,669 4,386 Yorks/Humberside 3,855 3,222 East Midlands 4,292 4,417 West Midlands 4,324 4,140 East Anglia 3,383 4,272 South East 3,956 4,040 South West 3,192 3,466 ENGLAND 3,820 3,919 Notes: * Based on sales reported up to 30 September. † There were so few sales in these years that it would be a breach of confidentiality to provide a price per hectare. Source: Inland Revenue.