§ 3.16 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Earl of Selborne I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the question standing in his name.
§ [The question was as follows:
- (1) Whether they can state, how many permanent houses have been completed in rural areas since December 1 1945, how many of these have been let to agricultural workers, and whether they will enact that, until the present economic crisis passes, agricultural workers shall have priority to all houses built by rural district councils.
- (2) How many prefabricated houses they propose to erect in mining areas and agricultural areas respectively during 1947?
- (3) whether former German prisoners of war, who have been repatriated and who have volunteered to work on farms in this country, will be allowed to return to do so."]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD INMAN)My Lords, in reply to the noble Earl's questions, I am informed that the total number of permanent houses completed in rural areas in England and Wales since December 1945, is 13,646: It is not possible to say with any accuracy how many of them have been let to agricultural workers, as this information is derived from the applications for the Exchequer subsidy, and I am told that applications are usually received six months after the houses have been completed. The number applied for to date is 1,255, but, because of the time lag mentioned, this substantially under-states the actual figure. The third part of the noble Earl's first question asks whether the Government "will enact that, until the present economic crisis passes, agricultural workers shall have priority to all houses built by rural district councils." The answer is that it is laid down by Statute that in their selection of tenants, local authorities shall give a reasonable preference to persons who are occupying insanitary, or overcrowded, houses, have large families, or are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions. Consistent with this provision, local authorities are being urged to let as many houses as possible to agricultural workers.
I now come to the second question raised by the noble Earl. The housing programme for 1947 includes the provision for 10,029 and 4,875 permanent prefabricated houses in mining areas and rural districts respectively. In addition, the number of temporary prefabricated houses accepted by rural district councils is 9,760, of which 5,282 have already been completed. It is anticipated that the balance of 4,478 will be completed this year. The number to be erected in mining areas this year is approximately 5,000. With regard to the noble Earl's third question, it is not at present proposed to allow the return of Germans who were employed in agriculture in this country before their repatriation. The reasons are first, that there are already in this country large numbers of Poles, many of whom it is hoped will be absorbed in agriculture; secondly, that we are at present engaged in bringing over to this country many thousands of European voluntary workers (displaced persons from Germany and Austria), many of whom have had experience of agricultural 387 work; and thirdly, that there is a shortage of able-bodied men in Germany, and I am informed that, for the time being at all events, the authorities there do not encourage emigration, for that is what the return of Germans to work in agriculture would involve.
§ EARL DE LA WARRMy Lords, there is just one question I would like to ask the noble Lord arising out of his answer to the second question. I think he said that something like 9,000 prefabricated houses had been approved, of which 3,000 or 4,000 had been completed. In a debate three weeks or a month ago the noble Earl, Lord Huntingdon, promised us that 20,000 special Airey prefabricated houses would be allocated to the rural areas. I took that to mean 20,000 additional prefabricated houses. Was I right in doing so, or would these 9,000, which obviously were started some time before this promise was made, have to be included in that 20,000?
§ LORD INMANI imagine that the point raised by the noble Lord is that the term "prefabricated." also applies to the new Airey type of house, and orders have already been placed for 20,000 Airey rural houses. Of that 20,000, the rural district council authorities have already applied for 13,800 sets for Airey houses. I imagine that is in addition to the figures I gave for temporary and permanent prefabricated houses.
§ 3.22 p.m.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, may I ask whether it is not a fact that to some extent the programme of erecting Airey rural houses has been delayed by a disinclination on the part of rural authorities to apply for these houses, and whether, if this is so, His Majesty's Government will do anything to encourage the placing of such orders?
§ LORD INMANI will gladly bring that to the notice of my right honourable friend. The information I have is that there has been no undue delay, and that 13,800 sets of parts have already been applied for by rural district councils.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, will the noble Lord say whether, in view of the great shortage of agricultural houses, the Government will not reconsider their policy and enable rural houses to be reconditioned?
§ LORD INMANI am afraid that is a point I must bring to the notice of my right honourable friend, and I hope that if the question is raised again I may be able to supply the right answer.