§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Agricultural Workers' Union protesting against exemption of Duchy of Cornwall tied cottages from the provision of the proposed legislation on the subject; how many such cottages exist; and why the exemption has been made.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI have received no representations on this subject from the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers. I understand from the Duchy of Cornwall that it has about a dozen cottages for housing agricultural
245Wworkers in its employ. The purpose of the Rent (Agriculture) Bill is to extend to agricultural workers housed by their employers protection under the equivalent of a Rent Act code. It therefore excludes those bodies, including the Duchy of Cornwall, which are exempted from the requirements of the Rent Act 1968. There will, however be extra-statutory arrangements to ensure similar protection for agricultural workers housed and employed by these bodies.