§ 17. Mr. Quintin Hoggasked the Minister of Health when he expects to be in a position to announce the Government's decision as to the recommendations of the Ridley Committee.
§ 29. Mrs. Castleasked the Minister of Health what action the Government proposes to take on the Report of the Ridley Committee on Rent Control.
§ Mr. BevanTo give full effect to the recommendations of the Committee would involve a complicated Measure for which, I am afraid, Parliamentary time cannot be found this Session. The Government, however, have decided to seek powers to control the rents of furnished lettings and of premises let with services, and a Bill for the purpose is being introduced to-day.
§ Mr. HoggHaving regard to the chaos which at the moment exists in the county courts in these cases, may I ask whether the answer means that no effect whatever is to be given to recommendations which give preference to the Serviceman returning to his own house?
§ Mr. BevanI am hoping to deal with the most urgent kind of case, that is, the individuals who have no protection under the rent law as it is now, such as people in furnished lettings. We have no time for the much larger and more complicated Measure.
§ Mr. JannerPending the introduction of this legislation, will the Minister issue 599 instructions to local authorities to give detailed information to landlords of tenements in respect to the present provisions of the Acts and will he take other steps to make those Acts as clear as he possibly can?
§ Mr. BevanI could not possibly undertake to send a circular to local authorities which might amount to an interpretation of the law in a matter where the courts themselves find difficulty.