§ 5. Mr. Toucheasked the Minister of Health how many local authorities are using subsidies granted to them in respect of houses built for agricultural workers for the purpose of reducing rents generally and not for the purpose of reducing rents to agricultural workers.
§ Mr. ToucheDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it reasonable that agricultural labourers should be deprived of any benefit with regard to rents when subsidies are given to local authorities for the building of agricultural cottages?
§ Mr. BevanThe subsidies are to enable local authorities in agricultural areas to discharge their housing functions, and they have no direct relationship to the rent of a particular house.
§ Mr. ToucheIs not the purpose of giving subsidies for agricultural cottages to lower the rents to the agricultural workers?
§ Mr. BevanThe rents are in the power of the local authorities themselves, and I have no authority over them.
§ Mr. Manningham-BullerAm I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman is in favour of local authorities using subsidies for this purpose generally?
§ Mr. BevanI do not understand what the hon. and learned Gentleman means. The subsidies are used in order to enable the local authorities to build houses at 554 rents which are within reach of the tenants; and that I think is generally the case.
§ Mr. Manningham-BullerI asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was in favour of local authorities using the subsidies for reducing rents generally.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a matter of opinion.