82. Mr. J. JONESasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a great shortage of houses for the working and middle classes in New Romney, 2283 Kent, and that, though at Little stone-on-Sea there are a number of large houses and shops vacant, their rent is beyond the means of the working and middle classes; whether, owing to the cost of building houses, the New Romney Corporation and the Romney Marsh Rural District Council have refused at present to consider a scheme for the building of new cottages; and whether he can take any action for the conversion of the large houses and shops into flats, or the huts and cottages at the St. Mary's Aerodrome, which is vacated by the Royal Air Force, into temporary homes for workmen and smallholders and to restore the existing cottages in Romney Marsh, which are in a state of advanced decay and are over crowded?
§ Major ASTOROn the information at present before mo, I do not gather that the position is accurately represented by the statements in the hon. Member's question. The Housing Commissioner for the area is being instructed to make further inquiries in the matter, and I can assure the hon. Member that all possible action will be explored to meet such deficiency as is found to exist.