§ 30. Mr. Derek Pageasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what criteria he is using to assess the success of his measures to give security to tenants of agricultural tied cottages.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe best criterion by which to judge the success of the special provisions in the Rent Act, 1965, will be whether both sides of the farming industry consider that they operate fairly in practice. I have no doubt that the National Union of Agricultural Workers will let me know if there are any cases where it considers that an agricultural worker has not received adequate protection.
§ Mr. PageIs my right hon. Friend aware that while agricultural workers appreciate the improvement that has been effected, there is still considerable apprehension? Is it not time that my right hon. Friend made official statistics available so that the success or otherwise of his policies on this matter could be properly judged?
§ Mr. CrossmanWe do not have special statistics about tied cottages. I have asked the National Union of Agricultural Workers to tell me if there are any complaints. It has made no complaint whatever so far, apart from referring to a transitional problem which will not be repeated.