§ Mr. INGLEBYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether any substantial use is being made by Rural District Councils of the powers conferred on them by the Housing and Town Planning Act for erecting or improving labourers' dwellings; and, if the answer is in the negative, whether he can state the reason for their not being put into active operation?
§ Mr. BURNSI have evidence that substantial use is being made by Rural District Councils of their powers under the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1909. As regards the improvement of dwellings, to which Sections 15 and 17 of the Act are applicable, returns received show that in the four months between the passing of the Act and the 31st March, 1910, Rural District Councils made closing orders affecting 162 houses, as compared with 119 in the whole of the year to 31st March, 1909. I cannot give the hon. Member any figures as to the action by Rural District 1427W Councils under Section 15 of the Act, but I shall be pleased to show him some reports already received from Medical Officers of Health for the year 1910, which indicate commendable activity on the part of Rural District Councils in the direction of getting houses put into a proper state of repair. With regard to the erection of working-class dwellings, applications have been received since the 1st January, 1910, from eight Rural District Councils with a view to the raising of loans for this purpose mounting to over £6,800, and in several other cases I have information that Rural District Councils are preparing plans, or have proposals for schemes under Part III. of the principal Act under consideration. No loans for this purpose had been sanctioned in the previous year.