§ 67. Mr. W. B. TAYLORasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what are the present rents charged for cottages in the Norfolk area under their control, and the rents which were charged prior to their taking over such cottages?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. W. R. Smith)The standard rent for cottages on the Forestry Commission's Norfolk areas is 3s. per week. There is only one at a higher rent, namely, 3s. 10d., but there are a number of lower rents where the occupants are widows, pensioners or protected tenants. For such of the cottages as existed when the areas were acquired, the average rent was approximately 1s. 11d. per week, but many of the present cottages are new, and others have since been reconditioned.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSCan the hon. Gentleman tell us what he means by the term "protected tenants"?
§ Mr. SMITHI understand that it indicates that in some of these cases certain reservations are made in regard to rents.
§ 68. Mr. TAYLORasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners what cottages, if any, on their estates in Norfolk are let to persons of independent means owning property elsewhere?
§ Mr. SMITHThe Commissioners know of none except cottages let with other property and those occupied by employés of tenants of sporting rights.
§ Mr. TAYLORDoes that mean that there are some which are let to people of independent means?
§ Mr. SMITHNo, unless in special cases of letting them with farms—usually they are occupied by employés of the tenants of those farms—and also where sporting rights are let.
§ Mr. TAYLORDo I understand my hon. Friend to say that persons of independent means who acquire sporting rights may control the cottages?
§ Mr. SMITHThat would be so if there were any cottages that went with them, but generally speaking there are none.