HC Deb 18 February 1980 vol 979 cc70-1W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications local housing authorities have received for rehousing supported by advice from agricultural dwellinghouse advisory committees that agricultural need has been established; how many farmworkers or farmworkers' families have been rehoused following receipt of such advice; and if he will give a breakdown of the figures for each quarter or failing that each half year since the Rent (Agriculture) Act came into force.

Mr. Stanley

The figures collected by my Department about the Rent (Agriculture) Act have related to the number of applications for rehousing received by local authorities, and have not distinguished those cases which were considered by an agricultural dwelling-house advisory committee.

1977 1978
First half Second half First half Second half
Valid applications received by local authorities 640 540 550 470
Decisions notified by end of period 510 520 520 460
of which:
Housing duty accepted 485 470 490 425
Housing duty not accepted 25 50 30 35
Cases rehoused by local authority 425 240 410 220

Because the Act is working satisfactorily and in view of the consistent pattern of applications and their treatment shown by the figures for 1977 and 1978 the collection of these statistics was discontinued last year. However, a broad indication of the working of the Act will continue to be available from agricultural dwelling-house advisory committee statistics collected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the working of the Rent (Agriculture) Act; and if he is satisfied with it.

Mr. Stanley

My right hon. Friend has received few representations about the working of the Rent (Agriculture) Act. He is satisfied that the Act is working as intended.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to amend the Rent (Agriculture) Act.

Mr. Stanley

My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, except for some minor amendments in the Housing Bill which are consequential on our proposals for amendments to the Rent Act 1977 in the same Bill.