Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Land Use Divisions: Registered Files, Sale of Requisitioned Agricultural Land (SAL Series)

During the Second World War land was requisitioned in order that it might be used to its full capacity to increase food production. After the termination of hostilities it was decided that some of this land should be retained for agricultural purposes, and under Part V of the Agriculture Act 1947 the Minister of Agriculture acquired powers to compel purchase of any requisitioned land which was not sold voluntarily to him, in order to maintain its full and efficient use for agriculture. It was then managed by the Agricultural Land Commission, set up under the Act, until it was decided that it was appropriate to dispose of the ministry's interest in it. During the 1950s, and in particular after the Crichel Down enquiry of 1954, it was government policy that land held by the ministry should be sold, and that forestry land should be transferred to the Forestry Commission.