§ Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Agriculture how many new or reconstructed cottages are, according to his estimates, required for agricultural workers in England and Wales; and whether this information can be subdivided according to counties.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI have asked my war agricultural executive committees to estimate for each rural district the number of new permanent agricultural workers for whom housing accommodation will ultimately be required when existing temporary labour ceases to be available, and, by arrangement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, to discuss the results of their surveys with rural district councils, who will take into full account the housing needs of the agricultural population in formulating their housing schemes. The surveys are not yet complete, and the form in which the estimates are being made would not enable a direct answer to be given to the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member.