§ LORD LYLE OF WESTBOURNEMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the first question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, what is the present average time which elapses between the application for building licences for agricultural labourers' cottages and the granting of such licences; and whether, in view of the urgent need for such cottages, steps can be taken to simplify the existing procedure.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD HENDERSON)My Lords, I thank your Lordships for your expression of good wishes and sympathy on my new appointment.
The average time taken between applications and the granting of licences is not known, but the number of such applications generally exceeds the capacity of the available building resources. The present procedure for consultation between county agricultural executive committees and local authorities, and between the regional officers of the Ministries of Health and Agriculture, has as its object the selection of the most urgent cases, and every effort is made to avoid delay.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, arising out of that answer, may I ask the Government to consider the possibility of including in anything that is done to expedite matters the conversion of larger houses into flats for farm servants? I understand considerable delay may be involved, but there may be an appreciable conservation of resources.
§ LORD HENDERSONI will take note of the noble Lord's suggestion.
§ LORD LYLE OF WESTBOURNEI beg to ask His Majesty's Government the second question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether he is aware that a licence to build two agricultural labourers' cottages at the Manor Farm, Great Shefford, near Newbury, Berks., was applied for 443 on January 30, 1948; that this matter has had to be considered by the Hungerford Rural District Council, the Berkshire Agricultural Executive Committee, the Ministry of Health Regional Office at Reading, and the Newbury District Agricultural Executive Committee, but that no decision has yet been given; whether, after a decision has been arrived at by those bodies, the question has then to be considered by the Valuation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture; and whether steps can be taken to expedite a decision.]
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, this application is being considered at Reading by the principal housing officer of the Ministry of Health and the provincial land commissioner of the Ministry of Agriculture. Applications for such licences in the district exceed the capacity of the local building resources, and it has not yet been decided whether this case can be given priority. A decision is expected shortly.
§ LORD LYLE OF WESTBOURNEMy Lords, arising out of the replies which the noble Lord has given to the two questions, may I ask him whether he does not think that they disclose a most appalling state of affairs, and a great lack of plan on the part of the Government to provide the houses which are necessary? Further, is it not a fact that thousands more houses could be built, and would be built, if only the Government would cut out all this red tape and, incidentally, allow private enterprise to build?
§ LORD HENDERSONIf I may say so, I disagree with the noble Lord's first proposition. The question is not one of red tape at all but of building resources in the locality. As I have said, applications are considered in relation to the building resources available.