§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Health whether is aware that part of the old county offices of the Wiltshire County Council in Trowbridge is being converted to provide two houses (or senior officials; whether this work has been authorised by him; the cost of conversion; the rents to be paid in respect of each 22W house; and whether he is aware of the public resentment that officials should receive this preferential consideration, in view of the surrounding scarcity of houses.
§ Mr. BevanThe answer to the first two parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir." The cost of the work is £1,100. I do not know the rents to be charged; these are within the discretion of the county council. As regards the last part of the Question, I would point out that the county council are acting under a provision of the Housing Act, 1936, which empowers them to provide houses solely for their own employees. The dwellings will not form part of the housing programme for the district which is the function of the urban district council and the position of applicants for council houses is not affected.