§ Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ascertain directly the views of farmers and farmworkers on the abolition of tied agricultural cottages.
§ Mr. StrangOn 7th August my right hon. Friend published jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment a consultative document entitled "Abolition of the Tied Cottage System in Agriculture" seeking the views of interests concerned with the agricultural tied cottage system in England and Wales. Copies of this document were sent to the industry's main representative organisations and upon request to many farmers, farmworkers and others. Simultaneously, I sent copies of the document to the Ministry's regional panels asking for their views.