HC Deb 27 January 2000 vol 343 c271W
Sir Sydney Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total area of land within the established green belt in England on 1 January(a) 1976, (b) 1979, (c) 1982, (d) 1985, (e) 1988, (f) 1991, (g) 1994, (h) 1997 and (i) 2000. [106874]

Mr. Raynsford

Figures published in December 1999 show that green belt in England in 1997 amounted to 1,652,300 hectares of land. This estimate is based on a new analysis of information in local plans and is more reliable than previously published figures for earlier years, which have been shown to be inaccurate.

Sir Sydney Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total area of established green belt land given non-conforming use planning permissions in each of the past 20 years. [106875]

Mr. Raynsford

The information requested is not held centrally by the Department, and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.