§ Mr. BARNESasked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to the action of Glasgow house factors raising rates on small houses, in accordance with the regulations of the city assessor, in excess of the amount levied prior to the passing of the House Letting and Rating (Scotland) Act; and if he can take any action by way of restraint?
Mr. McKINNON WOODIf the regulations to which my hon. Friend refers are the tables issued by the assessor for the city of Glasgow, these tables are prepared solely in order to provide a means of ascertaining the yearly rent or value of small dwelling-houses for the purposes of the Valuation Roll, which value, under Hub-section (8) of Section 7 of the House Letting and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1911, is to be arrived at after deducting from the gross rental the occupiers' rates and other charges which will be included in such gross rental. What the gross rental may be is a matter for bargain between owner and occupier.
§ Mr. BARNESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the gross rent is now in excess of what it was prior to the passing of the Act, and has he any power to prevent the Act being made a cloak by the landlord to exact higher rent?
Mr. McKINNON WOODNo, I am not aware that gross rents have actually been obtained higher than justified by the additional rates paid by the owner; but this table has nothing to do with that point at all.
§ Mr. BARNESIf I give the right hon. Gentleman figures to prove that my contention is right, will he look into the matter and exercise some restraint on those factors?