HC Deb 11 February 1958 vol 582 cc184-5
10. Mr. du Cann

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take regarding the practice of certain local authorities of refusing to consider applications for grant under the Housing Act, 1954, for improvements to farm cottages.

Mr. H. Brooke

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 3rd December, I think that this is a matter which must be left to local authorities to determine. The information which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Colonel Beamish) on 4th February about the record of rural district councils in relation to improvement grants shows that these authorities have done very well; and it is in the rural districts that the farm cottages are found.

Mr. du Cann

Would my right hon. Friend say what reply he has made to the representations he has received from the National Farmers' Union on this subject? Would he not agree that it is extremely important that these grants should work freely in order that the farm worker may be able to bring up his standard of living to that enjoyed by his urban brother?

Mr. Brooke

I am extremely anxious that local authorities in rural as well as in urban areas should use this grant. I have no power to compel them to do so. My hon. Friend will, I think, be pleased to hear that in rural districts the number of grants made in the fourth quarter of last year was greater than in the third quarter.

Mr. Champion

Will not the Minister encourage local authorities to apply for and use this grant, having regard to the fact that last year there was again a further serious loss of farm workers from the land?

Mr. Brooke

As I have said, I am anxious that local authorities should use this grant, but Parliament gave me no power to compel them to do so.