§ 77. Sir Geoffrey Johnson SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish a national land use survey to determine what land is available for housing and other purposes.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend has no plans to establish a national land use survey. My Department already monitors and publishes information from the Ordnance Survey on land use changes at national and regional level. Over the last two years 46 per cent. of land developed for housing came from previously developed sites or vacant land within urban areas. To help in preparing and monitoring structure plans, local authorities and housebuilders are strongly encouraged to prepare joint studies of housing land availability in each county.