§ 58. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Health how many rural district councils have applied to be authorities to administer the Housing (Rural Workers) Act,. 1926, and with what result?
§ Sir K. WOODTwo hundred and twenty-nine rural district councils have made applications under Section 5 of the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926, to be declared local authorities for the purposes of the Act. These applications will be considered in conjunction with the schemes proposed by the county councils and my right hon. Friend hopes to give a decision shortly. I may mention that some of these rural district councils appear to have been under the impression that where the work under this Act is undertaken by the county council the charge would, nevertheless, be a district charge. This, of course, is not the case, as where the county council is the authority the charge is spread over the whole area of the county, even though the district council acts as the agent for the county council. The only case where the charge is laid upon the district is where the district council itself is the authority to the exclusion of the county council.
§ Mr. HURDMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he will give an assurance that these applications from the 229 rural district councils will be considered by the Ministry in a sympathetic spirit,, in view of the Section in the Act?
§ Sir K. WOODCertainly applications from the district councils and the county councils will be so considered.