§ Mr. RONALD M'NEILLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to an offer by Lord Henniker to sell land at Braisworth, Suffolk, to the district council for building purposes at purely agricultural prices; and whether he can say why the offer was rejected by the district council, having regard to the dearth of cottage accommodation for workmen in the locality?
§ Mr. BURNSA complaint has been matte to me that the rural district council of Hartismere are in default in regard to the exercise of their powers to provide houses for the working classes in Braisworth, and a local inquiry has recently been held into the complaint by one of my inspectors. I have not yet received the inspector's report, but my attention has been drawn to a newspaper report of the inquiry, in which a statement is attributed to the agent of Lord Henniker to the effect that, if the council wished for land on which to build cottages, Lord Henniker would be a willing seller at agricultural prices. I gather from the same newspaper report that the council have made investigations in regard to the housing needs of402W some thirteen of the parishes in their district, and that they contemplate building some houses in ten of those parishes. When I receive the inspector's report in regard to Braisworth the matter will receive my careful consideration. I am not aware of any offer of land made by Lord Henniker having been rejected by the council.