§ 55. Mr. ROSEasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware of the growing difficulty in obtaining housing accommodation; whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of landlords in hold- 1019 ing up houses for sale, and refusing to let them; whether he is aware that in other cases, in order to obtain possession of a vacant house, people are having to pay sums by way of bonus, and that discharged soldiers are parting with their gratuities for this purpose; that many people who took cottages in the country to escape air raids are retaining these cottages, although only using them at intervals for pleasure purposes; and whether the Government propose to take action to secure that, during the present shortage, no house shall be kept vacant on the ground that the landlord will only sell, and that any owner of a vacant house who withholds such house from occupation, and any person who accepts a bonus in payment for giving possession, shall be subject to heavy penalties?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD(Major Astor)I have been asked to reply to this question. Under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, any sums paid by way of bonus to obtain possession of houses within the terms of that Act are recoverable by the tenant. I do not think that the Government can hold out any hope of further legislation at present on the other practices referred to by the hon. Member. The Board also have no information that they are generally prevalent.
§ Mr. ROSEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will accept from me evidence showing the intensity of the difficulty to which the question referred, and will he undertake to consider that evidence with a possible revision of the answer he has given now?
§ Major ASTORI shall, of course, consider any evidence or information the hon. Member may send.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas the Government still power to take over buildings?
§ Major ASTORThat question should be addressed to the Office of Works.