§ Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Minister of Health if he will make inquiries as to whether the urban district councils are prepared to take over the operation of the Acts providing for the reconditioning of rural houses; and whether he will by legislation take power to call for annual returns of all work of this nature undertaken or contemplated?
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§ Mr. SHAKESPEARE:The Housing (Rural Workers) Acts, 1926 and 1931, apply only to cottages occupied by agricultural workers or persons of substantially the same economic condition. They are already in operation in urban as well as in rural districts, and where the circumstances warrant this, urban district councils are or can be made local authorities for the purposes of these Acts. Quarterly returns of progress made under the Acts are already furnished to my Department, and no further statutory powers than those at present existing are necessary for the purpose of calling for such returns.