§ Mr. Jacksonasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that 13s. per week plus rates is too high a rent for farm workers to pay for their cottages, while the standard wage is £3 per week, and, in view of the dissatisfaction this suggested rent has caused among them, will he make a statement on the matter?
§ Mr. E. BrownIf, as I assume, my hon. Friend is referring to the scheme 673W described in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd) on 4th February, I would point out that he is under a misapprehension as to the rents to be charged for the new cottages. Local authorities have been informed that the rents of these cottages should be about 10s. a week plus rates for parlour houses and 8s. 6d. a week plus rates for non-par-lour houses. The amount of the rents to be charged has been very fully considered both by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and myself and we do not think that, having regard to present agricultural earnings, these rents are more than the tenants ought to be asked to pay for the accommodation to be provided.