§ Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Pensions what progress has been made in the erection of village settlements for tubercular ex-service men and their families?
§ Major TRYONThe general question of village settlements for the tuberculous, like the allied question of training, is primarily a matter for the Minister of Health. I am informed that some additional accommodation has been provided at the settlements at Papworth and Preston Hall, which, together, now have accommodation for about 100 families. In view, however, of the fact that the settlements which have at present been started by voluntary enterprise must still be regarded as in the experimental stage, and of the uncertainty as to the men's willingness generally to live premanently in such settlements, I understand that the late Government decided that they would not, under present financial circumstances, be justified in incurring large expenditure in the provision and maintenance of village settlements by the State. In the meantime, the existing experiments in this direction are being watched sympathetically.