§ 63. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications for increases or reductions in the rents of agricultural tied cottages have been made to him since July, 1947; and how many increases or reductions have been agreed to.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI presume the hon. Member is referring to the provision of the Agricultural Wages Act, 1948, under which, when the employer of an agricultural worker provides a cottage as part-payment of wages at the minimum rates, the employer or the worker may apply to the county agricultural wages committee for the value of the cottage for that purpose to be increased or reduced from the 6s. standard laid down by the Agricultural Wages Board. From 31st August, 1947, to 31st December, 1948, the committees in England and Wales received 1,107 applications for increases and 1,060 applications for decreases. Committees agreed to higher valuations in 1,080 cases and to lower valuations in 575 cases.