§ Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYasked the Minister of Health if, having regard to the continued depression in the iron-ore mining industry in West Cumberland, and 1324W the consequent impossibility of thousands of those employed in that and kindred industries to pay the present rents fixed upon houses built in urban and borough districts, he will, having regard to the fact that these rents have been fixed by the Ministry of Health, give the local authorities in Egremont, Cumberland, and the Whitehaven borough and rural councils power to reduce the rents of such houses by 2s. per week or such other sum per week as the local authorities named may, after due inquiry, consider the present tenants ably to pay?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYAny application by a local authority in this area for permission to reduce the rents of their assisted scheme houses will be considered on its merits, subject to compliance with the rules for the determination of rents laid clown in the Housing Regulations.