§ Mr. Steenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his Department's estimates of the number of acres of land currently used for agriculture which will no longer be used for that purpose in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement as to the change of use which he envisages, in a percentage breakdown.
§ Mr. JoplingThe total area of agricultural land, including rough grazing, as recorded by agricultural censuses, has been tending to decline for many years as land as been utilised for forestry, housing, roads and other purposes. I have no detailed estimates of the precise pattern of change for each of the next three years as this will depend on many factors, including the demand for land for these non-agricultural purposes.