§ Miss Maynardasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the make-up of the panels of agricultural dwelling house advisory committee chairmen; and if he will review the guidelines which his department issues to agricultural dwelling house advisory committees.
§ Mr. StrangI am satisfied that ADHAC chairmen are doing a good job, but I believe that some additional appointments could with advantage be made to the panels to widen their membership.
The guidelines have in practice proved to be a useful handbook for ADHACs. However, I believe some misunderstanding has arisen on occasion about the possible use of other accommodation available to the farmer. It is not part of an ADHAC's function to take a view on whether a farmer could provide suitable alternative accommodation for the existing occupier or a new worker. That is a matter for the local housing authority. However, the guidelines suggest that there may be occasions where it would be useful if the ADHAC drew to the attention of the housing authority factual information about other accommodation available to the farmer of which it is aware. A number of ADHACs have, indeed, done this, and for the future I am asking them to do so as a matter of course.