§ 88. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Health how many Airey rural houses have been applied for by the rural district councils; and whether it was his intention to allocate the whole of the first 20,000 through those councils.
§ Mr. BevanOver 9,000 Airey rural houses have now been applied for by rural district councils. I should like, however, to take this opportunity of emphasising that an application by a local authority for these prefabricated houses cannot be taken as a firm order until the particulars asked for in the enclosure to Circular 86/46, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, have been supplied; and the number of firm orders is at present 39W less than 3,000. I am urging the councils concerned to supply the necessary particulars, and any assistance my hon. Friend can give me will be welcome. I hope that most of the 20,000 Airey rural houses for which components are being produced will be allocated to rural district councils; but if the response of these authorities is inadequate or belated, it will be necessary to offer these houses to urban areas.