asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider sanctioning grants under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, so as to enable those tenants who have purchased labourers' cottages to obtain reconstruction grants for the extension of their homes.

As I pointed out in reply to a similar question on the 9th March last, consideration of this suggestion would be premature at this stage, in view of the relatively short time since the vesting of cottages under the Labourers Act, 1936, and the prior need in present circumstances for the provision of new dwellings and the restoration of unfit houses.