HC Deb 27 January 1943 vol 386 cc522-3W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from local authorities and other property owners in regard to the condition of cottages and houses in rural areas; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this position?

Mr. E. Brown

I have received various representations from time to time, and I am consulting with the Rural District Councils Association as to arrangements which might be made to effect every possible improvement that limitations on supply of labour and materials may permit.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning what action is open to a landlord who receives complaints from tenant farmers that labour employed on the farms will not remain unless urgent repairs to their houses are carried out; whether the existing machinery for obtaining licences for carrying out urgent repairs can be revised; whether local builders may now have returned to them tradesmen whom they formerly employed and who have been engaged on special work erecting camps, etc., having regard to the necessity of ensuring that the conditions of agricultural workers are kept at a proper standard?

Mr. Hicks

As regards the first part of the Question, owners or tenants of farm properties may carry out without licence repairs on any property, as defined in Defence Regulation 56A, up to the limit of £100 in any period of twelve months. Repairs exceeding that figure require a licence from my Department unless they are carried out by local authorities, in which case they require neither licence nor authorisation. As regards the second part of the Question, applications for licences to repair farm workers dwellings are referred to the Ministry of Agriculture, and where that Department makes a favourable recommendation, a licence is ordinarily granted. My information is that these arrangements are working well and I have no evidence that the machinery for obtaining licences needs revision. As regards the third part of the Question, the urgent needs of the Government building programme make it impossible for the time being to arrange for the return to their former employers of men transferred to work on the programme. The Ministry of Labour however pay special regard to the difficulties of rural areas when the question of the withdrawal of labour arises and in particular, men over military age are riot withdrawn unless substitutes can be provided beforehand.