HC Deb 19 July 1956 vol 556 cc1376-7
35. Mr. Speir

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Forestry Commission is taking to ensure that suitable accommodation is available on their retirement for its employees who are now working in the new forestry villages in Northumberland.

Mr. Amory

Houses are not specially provided by the Forestry Commission for retired workers. When tenants retire, they are given the sympathetic consideration normally extended by a good employer.

Mr. Speir

Does my right hon. Friend realise that rather special considerations apply in this area, which is very sparsely populated, and in which there are very few council houses, and that, since the Forestry Commission is bringing in employees from far and wide, unless the local authorities are given some special help there will be no homes available for these retired employees?

Mr. Amory

I do fully realise the point made by my hon. Friend. Fortunately, the average age of forestry workers at present is fairly low; but there is a problem here which we shall have to face, particularly in our forest villages.