HC Deb 12 December 1911 vol 32 cc2333-4W
Mr. FFRENCH

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a cottage scheme, formulated by the Wexford District Council, was lodged with the Local Government Board on the 13th August last; that the Board now propose hanging up this scheme with the object of allowing other district councils who refused or neglected to work the Labourers Acts when loan terms were onerous to avail themselves of the cheap money granted under the Act of 1911; whether he is aware that this proposal puts a premium on the inaction of the councils who fail to put the law in motion and penalises those councils who were active in the administration of the Acts; and whether, having regard to the fact that the Wexford scheme proposes the erection of a number of cottages in lieu of old hovels condemned by the medical officer of health as unfit for human habitation, he will recommend the Local Government Board to carry out the provisions of Article 23 (1) of the Labourers Order, 1906, and appoint an inspector to hold an inquiry into the scheme at an early date so that the cottages might be built next summer?

Mr. BIRRELL

The facts are practically as stated. The principle on which the Local Government Board are acting in regard to the holding of inquiries has already been stated on several occasions in reply to questions in this House; but, apart from that consideration, schemes from twenty-five other rural districts were lodged before that from Wexford, and are at present awaiting inquiry. Article 23 (1) of the Labourers Order, 1906, is being complied with as far as practicable. Wexford Rural District has received £28,310 out of the four and a quarter millions provided by the Labourers Act of 1906, and 911 cottages have already been authorised to be provided in the district. Moreover, the last proposal of the council, which was made in March, 1910, was one providing for the taking of additional allotments for 141 cottages already built, so that the council themselves would appear to have considered that no urgent necessity exists for building more cottages.