§ 28. Mr. HOHLERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, having regard to the fact that rents have been and are being raised upon the men in His. Majesty's Forces, both at sea and upon land, their wives and widows, he will at once introduce a Bill to fix these rents at the amount payable at the outbreak of the War and, in cases in which the rent was inclusive of rates, to prevent the burden of the rates being cast upon these tenants, and to prevent any steps being taken to determine such tenancies so long as the original rent is paid until after the determination of the War, and further to provide for the repayment to such tenants of any increase of rent or any rates the burden of which has been cast upon them since the outbreak of the War?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long)Legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend would, I am afraid, prove to be of a controversial character, and I cannot promise to introduce a Bill on the subject.
§ Mr. HOHLERIs it suggested that it would be controversial to raise this question with regard to our soldiers and sailors serving at the front?
§ Mr. LONGI cannot imagine a more controversial question than that of dealing by legislation with either rent or rates. It would be obviously impossible to confine it to the limited class referred to.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIf the Government are fixing maximum prices for labour, can they not fix maximum rents?
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs it not a fact that in Germany no rent is charged to soldiers or sailors?