THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government whether they will state why they object to "tied houses" in agriculture, when they themselves fully accept the principle as far as houses owned by the National Coal Board and the Forestry Commission are concerned, and bearing in mind that forestry workers come under the same wage scales as those engaged in agriculture.
§ LORD SHEPHERDIn the debates on the Housing Bills which have just been enacted, His Majesty's Government explained their views on the question of payment of Exchequer grant for the improvement of privately owned agricul- 316 tural houses. Under these Acts Exchequer grant may be paid in respect of the improvement of houses occupied on a tenancy basis as opposed to houses occupied as part of a contract of service. Most of the houses owned by the National Coal Board and the Forestry Commission are occupied on a tenancy basis.