THE EARL OF MANSFIELDasked His Majesty's Government whether they will state how many former mineworkers have 938WA been ejected from their tied houses by the National Coal Board, since it took over control of the mines, and how many forestry workers by the Forestry Commission in the last three years, on the ground that they were no longer employed in these respective occupations.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL, OF HUNTINGDON)in the last three years court orders have been obtained against eight tenants of Forestry Commission cottages on account of their ceasing to work for the Commission. The general position as regards the 141,000 houses, mostly occupied by mineworkers, which passed into the ownership of the National Coal Board on nationalisation, is that these houses have normally continued to be occupied on the same terms as before. It is usually a condition that a mineworker who obtains a colliery house must vacate it if he leaves colliery employment, and because of the acute shortage of houses, for working miners in many places, the Board have felt obliged in a number of cases, where this condition has not been complied with, to apply to the courts for possession. This is a matter of day-to-day administration, however, and my right honourable friend the Minister of Fuel and Power would not feel justified in asking for detailed information.
House adjourned at seven minutes past six o'clock.