§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hectares were classified as(a) grassland, (b) land for crop growing, (c) woodland, (d) urban, (e) suburban and (f) semi-natural vegetation in each year since 1974 in the UK, broken down by (i) region and (ii) county. [165805]
§ Mr. BradshawEstimates of the area of farmland in England which is classified as grassland, crops and bare fallow, and other agricultural land is available from the Agricultural Census for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Estimates of the area of woodland in England in 1995–99 is available from the Forestry Commission, while information on the extent of urban areas (including suburban land) in England in 1981, 1991 and 2001 is available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. No separate information is available on the extent of semi-natural land in England. A copy of the available information will be made available in the 1203W Library of the House. Information about the area of land in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland falls under the jurisdiction of the devolved authorities.