52. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Agriculture how many farm workers' houses in England and Wales, respectively, have been built with grant aid under the Hill Farming Act.
Mr. T. WilliamsApproval has been given to the erection of 28 new cottages under hill farming improvement schemes in England. Of these one has been completed and three are under construction. In addition, three have been provided by the conversion of existing buildings. The corresponding figures for Wales are 17 approved for erection, one completed and four under construction. Most of the work on cottages in hill farming improvement schemes is on the repair and modernisation of existing cottages rather than on the erection of new ones.
Mr. VaneDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that this is a pathetic result, bearing in mind the present need of houses, and does he not now see that he made a mistake when he came to Committee and excluded cottages let on service tenancies from grant aid under this Act?
Mr. WilliamsI do not think I made any mistake when I said that any new house for which a Government grant is provided shall not become a tied house.