§ 11. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many Forestry Commission houses are without a supply of electricity.
§ Mr. SoamesOf the Commission's 5,000 houses in Great Britain there are at present about 1,100 without electricity. The Commission hopes to have a supply laid on to all except the most remote of these within the next five years.
§ Mr. BoydenIn view of the very considerable anxiety which exists on both sides of the House about the lack of amenities in Forestry Commission villages, could not the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that at least those hamlets of, say, ten or more houses will have electricity by the end of the next financial year?
§ Mr. SoamesI could not give a definite date for particular houses. I have written at some length to the hon. Gentleman to explain the situation. There are many improvements which need to be made to many of these houses, and it is a question of funds available and priorities.