§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of inserting a clause in the contemplated Labourers (Ireland) Bill extending the provisions of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts to 1871W urban areas with populations not exceeding 5,000, so as to enable the local authorities to provide agricultural labourers in such areas with suitable dwellings and plots at rents which they can afford to pay out of the wages obtainable in such districts and which exclude them from the advantages of the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the opinion of the Local Government Board the Housing of the Working Classes Acts adequately meet the wants of the working population in urban areas, and the difficulties alleged by the hon. Member to exist can be met if urban councils will refrain from adopting expensive plans, and will erect plain comfortable buildings which can be let at a moderate rent. The housing operations in urban and rural districts must be administered separately by separate authorities and under separate Acts, or great confusion would ensue. It would be beyond the scope of the Bill to include such a provision as is suggested.