§ 53. Sir J. WALKER SMITHasked the Minister of Health what progress is being made by the committee appointed by the Minister of Health on 31st July, 1931, under the Housing (Rural Authorities) Act, 1931; whether or not it is still considered desirable that houses should be provided under the terms of the Act; and, if so, whether he will take steps to that end to secure expedition in the activities of his Department and the committee concerned?
Sir H. YOUNGThe committee, of which my hon. Friend is a member, have held one meeting and have arranged to hold another meeting when all applications have been received. The Act is operative, and applications under it must be considered by the committee. I do not understand what my hon. Friend has in mind in the last part of his question. 1240 The time allowed for local authorities to make applications only expired this week.
§ Sir J. WALKER SMITHDoes the right hon. Gentleman claim to exercise the same pressure and use the same influence with the rural local authorities as has caused the urban local authorities previously to estimate their needs and submit their proposals for many hundreds of thousands of pounds?
Sir H. YOUNGI do not quite understand the bearing of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, but the Act, as I have already said, will be administered according to the law.