§ 47. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the cases of town leaseholders, both shopkeepers and householders, whose leases have come or are coming to an end during the war years, in which the freeholders are claiming the full measure of repairs from the leaseholders, and that in many cases, owing to the shortage of labour and material, it is impossible to carry out these repairs; and whether, 427 under these special circumstances caused by the War, the Government will consider the advisability of taking some action to afford these leaseholders relief either by extending the period of the existing leases or holding over all repairs until a reasonable time after the conclusion of peace?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Law Officers advise that legislation would be required and this could not be introduced before the Recess. I shall, however, carefully consider the possibility of bringing in a Bill to deal with the hardship referred to after the House reassembles.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI shall require notice of that question.