§ 85. Mr. SWANasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the effect on the housing shortage in rural areas of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, under which no farmer can be expected to let a vacant house to a non-farm worker, seeing that possession cannot be regained if the house should be required at a later period for the use of a worker on the farm, the lack of accommodation being thereby accentuated and houses left empty which otherwise would readily be let; and is he prepared to amend the Act in such a way as to remove this difficulty?
§ Sir A. MONDI have received representations to the same effect as the hon. Member's question, but they are based on a misapprehension. The usual requirement of alternative accommodation for a tenant does not apply where a dwelling-house is required for the occupation of a person engaged on work necessary for the proper cultivation of an agricultural holding. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the relevant section of the Act.
§ Mr. SWANIn the event of a large number of houses being out of use, is it not possible to relax that Regulation?
§ Sir A. MONDI was just pointing out that there is no such Regulation as the hon. Member seems to think exists.