§ Mr. LEACHasked the President of the Board of Agriculture at what rent he expects the houses to be built by his Department to be let, how many rooms to a cottage, and what size gardens he proposes to attach to each cottage?
§ Mr. RUNC1MANI would refer my hon. Friend to the report of my speech in this House on Friday last, when I dealt with all the points raised in this question.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his advisers have decided what would be a fair economic rent of a cottage in a rural district which cost £200 to provide; and what is the weekly wage which would suffice to enable a labourer to pay such economic rent?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAbout four shillings a week would ordinarily be a fair economic rent for a cottage costing £200 to provide, but I hope that in many parts of the country it will be found possible to build satisfactory cottages at a lower cost. The answer to the last part of the question must depend upon a variety of circumstances, especially upon the amount of time which the labourer has free for the profitable cultivation of his garden.