§ 78. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Health whether it was the intention of the larger subsidy given for new council houses built for agricultural workers to enable the tenants to be charged a proportionately smaller rent; and what is the proportion of rural district councils that give such an advantage to agricultural workers when letting their houses.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsThe intention was to relieve the burden on the local rates as well as to permit reduced rents. I have no reason to think that this intention is not being fulfilled.
§ 80. Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Health why he has ruled that new rural houses should not be scattered to meet the convenience of farm workers but must be built in one big block.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsI would refer the hon. Member to the report on Land Utilisation in Rural Areas (Cmd. 6378) paragraph 163 and to the section of the Housing Manual 1944, headed "Housing and Site Planning."
§ 82. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Health how many applications have now been made by local authorities for the higher rate of subsidy in respect 233W of the number of new houses allocated to the agricultural population.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsThe answer is 607.