§ 30. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in many cases the assessment for gross rateable value upon cottages erected by rural district councils, under the provisions of the Housing Acts, and let to agricultural workers, are in excess of the rents payable by the tenants of these cottages, and that the resulting rates are very heavy burdens upon the agricultural workers who inhabit these cottages; and whether he will circularise the rating authorities, drawing their attention to the provisons of Section 68 of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, and directing that the assesment of gross value should in no case exceed the rent payable to the local authority by the tenant?
§ Sir K. WOODSpecial provision is already made for the assessment of certain dwellings of agricultural workers, by virtue of the Section of the Act of 1925 cited by my hon. Friend, combined with Section 72 of the Local Government Act, 1929. I have no power to give any direction to rating authorities or assessment committees in the matter, but if my hon. Friend will send me fuller information of the difficulties he has in mind, I will see whether any step is open to me.