§ 4.8 p.m.
§ Lord TEVIOTMy Lords, I beg to ask the question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total number of tied cottages held by the Forestry Commissioners for the accommodation of foresters and agricultural workers, and by the Coal Board for the accommodation of workers in the coal industry?]
§ The JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY Of AGRICULTURE And FISHERIES (The Earl Of Huntingdon)My Lords, all dwelling houses held by the Forestry Commissioners are let on tenancies ranging from one week to a year, with the exception of 364 cottages which are let rent free to foresters and foremen as part of their emoluments. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that no statistics are yet available as to the number of cottages held by the National Coal Board for the accommodation of workers in the coal industry. In no case 1008 is it the practice of either the Forestry Commissioners or the National Coal Board to dispossess a tenant without a Court order.
§ Lord TEVIOTI thank the noble Earl for his reply. I take it that it means that the Government are to take steps to see that these houses or cottages will be retained for the purposes for which they are now being used.
§ The Earl Of HUNTINGDONYes, I think the noble Lord can rest assured on that point.
§ Earl DE LA WARRCould the noble Earl be a little clearer on that? It does not mean to say that the Government are going in for a policy of tied cottages, does it? Could the noble Earl give us an answer?
§ The Earl Of HUNTINGDONI think I have given a fairly full answer. I should like to call the attention of the noble Earl to the fact that the expression "tied cottage" is a colloquial term which has various definitions. What I understood the noble Lord, Lord Teviot, to ask was whether the dwellings in possession of the Coal Board and the Forestry Commissioners would continue to be used for miners and foresters. Obviously they will.