§ Mr. G. EDWARDSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Walsingham rural district council have been advised by his Department that the negotiations regarding the initial rents 853W of new houses being erected by the council should be deferred until the decision of the Rents Tribunal on the Fakenham arbitration is known; that this decision has now been under consideration for 12 months; whether there is any prospect of it being made shortly; and whether, in view of the impracticability of inviting people to become tenants of new houses without first acquainting them as to the amount of rent for which they will be liable, he will withdraw the advice referred to and enable the council to fix an appropriate rent as the houses become ready for occupation?
§ Sir A. MONDI think the local authority must be under some misapprehension. It has not been suggested that they should invite persons to become tenants of the new houses at an unknown rent, but that pending the decision of the Rents Tribunal, which is expected shortly, they should let the houses at such a rent as they consider appropriate, on the understanding that the amount of the Exchequer subsidy will be calculated on the basis of the rents ultimately decided upon.