§ Mr. ChapmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the protection from development of(a) the best and most versatile agricultural land and (b) other agricultural land.
§ Mr. ChopeI have been asked to reply.
The Government's policy on development involving agricultural land is set out in my Department's Circular 16/87, issued in May 1987, and in planning policy guidance note 7 "Rural Enterprise and Development", issued in January 1988. Copies of both are in the Library. In summary, the best and most versatile agricultural land is a national resource which should in general be protected from irreversible development and should not be built on unless there is no other site available for the purpose. This does not mean that all other agricultural land is freed for development; in deciding any application for planning permission that affects it, the agricultural implications must be considered together with the environmental and economic aspects.