§ Major Carverasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the appeal to the public to increase agricultural output and the consequent necessity for housing larger numbers of people on the land, he is endeavouring to expedite the erection of additional houses in rural areas; how many such houses are being built now; and how many have been sanctioned?
§ Mr. ElliotAll proposals for the provision of houses in rural districts are being sympathetically considered, and all proposals shown on consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to be essential to an increased agricultural output have been approved.
I am unable to give the number of houses at present being built in rural districts, but returns received by my Department towards the end of November, 1939, showed that the number of houses completed by rural district councils since 31st July, 1939, was 2,651, and that out of 5,810 houses under construction those councils were concentrating on the completion of 4,878 which had reached an advanced stage. All proposals subsequently received for the completion of the balance of 932 under construction have been approved. The number of new houses in rural areas approved under the Housing Acts since the beginning of the war is 120.