HC Deb 04 June 2003 vol 406 c473W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which cities have green belts; how large they were in 1997; what area they cover now; and what plans he has to enlarge green belt land. [115154]

Mr. McNulty

In 1997, the area covered by the 14 green belts in England was:

Hectares
Tyne and Wear 53,000
York 35,400
South and West Yorkshire 251,300
North West 249,500
Stoke-on-Trent 44,100
Nottingham and Derby 62,000
Burton and Swadlincote 700
West Midlands 229,800
Cambridge 26,700
Gloucester and Cheltenham 7,000
Oxford 35,000
London 514,300
Avon 68,400
SW Hampshire and SE Dorset 82,300
Total 1,649,500

The Government remains committed to the protection of green belts. Since 1997, over 30,000 hectares has been added to the green belt. Our objective is to continue to maintain or increase the area of green belt land in each English region. The general extent of green belt will continue to be a matter for Regional Planning Guidance, with local planning authorities setting the precise boundaries.