§ Mr. Richard Pageasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the annual rate of encroachment, in acres and as a proportion, on green belt (a) in Hertfordshire and (b) nationally;
(2) what proportion of planning applications involving construction on green belt designated land have been approved in each of the years 1974 to 1985 (a) in Hertfordshire and (b) nationally;
(3) how many acres have been added to land designated as green belt in each of the years 1974 to 1985 (a) in Hertfordshire and (b) nationally.
§ Mr. TraceyMost planning applications for development in the green belt are dealt with by district planning authorities and information in the form requested is not available within the Department. The area of approved green belt in England in 1985 was about 4½ million acres compared with about 1.8 million acres in 1975. An account of the development of each green belt is given in the Department's memorandum to the Environment Select Committee for their inquiry into green belt and Land for Housing. (First report, Session 1983–84, Volume II, see particularly pages 14–18).