Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to extend special consent to the raising of loans in respect of houses in an advanced state of construction to make it permissive for the raising of loans to erect additional houses in rural areas, notwithstanding that building operations on these houses have not been already commenced, in view of the increase in the population in many rural districts as a direct result of the Government evacuation scheme?
864W
§ Mr. ElliotI have already given instructions that proposals from rural areas for the completion of houses not in an advanced stage of construction, and also for the erection of new houses, should receive sympathetic consideration. My hon. Friend will, I am sure, agree that in the latter case preference must be given to houses urgently required for the accommodation of agricultural workers and will appreciate that consideration of all proposals must take into account the availability of building materials.