33. Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Health how many rural district councils in England and Wales have made application to the Rural Housing Committee for Exchequer grants in respect of new housing accommodation required for the abatement of overcrowding among the agricultural population under the terms of Section 108 of the Housing Act, 1936; and the number and amounts of the grants approved by him under that Section up to the end of April, 1937?
§ Sir K. WoodAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Applications have been received from 55 Rural District Councils and, up to 30th April, 1937, the Minister, acting on the recommendations of the Rural Housing Committee, had undertaken to make the following Exchequer contributions, payable annually for 40 years in respect of each house:
1945| Number of Houses. | Contribution per House. | ||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| 90 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| 477 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 635 |
§ 37. Mr. Dayasked the Minister of Health the number of complaints received, during the three years ended to the last convenient date, that administrative bodies have failed to exercise their powers under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act, 1926; and the number of labourers' cottages that have been improved and reconditioned under this Act during the same period?
§ Sir K. WoodComplaints have from time to time been received that insufficient use has been made of these Acts, but I have no record of the exact number. Steps have recently been taken to secure wider publicity for the grants available which will, it is hoped, result in a marked increase in the number of cottages improved. The number of cottages in respect of which local authorities have undertaken to grant assistance increased during the three years ended 3ist March, 1937, from 7,807 to 14,207.
§ Mr. DayWill the Minister consider the desirability of impressing upon local authorities to exercise their powers under this Act?
§ Sir K. WoodYes, Sir. If the hon. Member will be good enough to study the Debates on the Ministry of Health Estimates a day or two ago, he will see that the matter was fully dealt with then.
§ Mr. T. JohnstonHas the Minister's attention been called to a report of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Housing, published last week, in which the administration of this Act is described as a gross waste of public money? Will he assure himself that similar misapplication of public funds is not being made in England?
§ Sir K. WoodI understand that the report dealt only with Scotland, and I 1946 know of no such condemnation so far as England is concerned.
§ Mr. JohnstonI am asking the right hon. Gentleman to give me an assurance that a similar waste of public money is not being made in England?
§ Sir Joseph LambIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this is a most valuable Act for the rural workers?
§ Sir K. WoodI would like to state at once that I am not aware of any such position, so far as this country is concerned. I am most anxious that local authorities should take all steps they can under this Act.
§ Mr. DavidsonWill the right hon. Gentleman set up a committee to investigate the whole question?
§ Sir K. WoodNo, Sir, I think we will leave Scotland to look after its own affairs.