§ 7.17 p.m.
§ EARL FORTESCUEMy 'Lords, I beg to ask the last question which Lord De La Warr has on the Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government what number of houses they estimate will be completed in the rural areas of Great Britain during 1946 and 1947, with especial reference to those intended for agricultural workers; how many plans have already been submitted for approval, how many approved and how many houses are in process of erection.]
§ LORD AMMONMy Lords, as regards the first part of the question, the reasons which have led the Government to decide not to publish a housing target were explained in the debates on November 13th and i4th in your Lordships' House. The 144 Minister of Health has, however, undertaken to submit periodical progress reports showing what has actually been achieved, beginning in the New Year. The stage now reached by housing schemes promoted by rural district councils is that land has been acquired for approximately 40,000 houses, the invitation of tenders has been authorized. for 12,290 houses and tenders have been approved for 3,412 houses. Work should either have started or be about to start on all contracts for which tenders have been approved, but the progress of the work on the sites will not be known until the returns which the Minister of Health. is obtaining from the local authorities are received in the New Year. The apportionment of the houses built by rural district councils between the agricultural and the non-agricultural population of rural districts will be made after the new subsidies have been fixed. Discussions with the associations of local authorities on this subject are now proceeding and the Government will shortly be introducing a Bill embodying their proposals.