§ 35. Mr. W. GRAHAMasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in Scotland large numbers of business men and women have been warned to leave 1829 shop and other premises at the forthcoming May terra; whether in many cases the premises have been purchased over their heads in order to provide places of entertainment and other luxury buildings, thus leading to widespread waste of money in the midst of the serious condition of national and local finance; and if, having regard to the fact that the inquiry of the Select Committee on the Rent Restriction Acts has been extended to cover shop and business property, he is now in a position provisionally to indicate the Government's attitude and so prevent the unnecessary and expensive removal of innumerable Scottish busineses, if not their extinction, because of the failure to secure other accommodation?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)I have been asked to reply to this question. I am unable to make any statement as to the extension of the Rent Restriction Acts to business premises until the Report of the Committee has been considered.
§ Mr. GRAHAMDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that in view of the proximity of the leaving day it is very important that some statement should be made now in view of the fact that tenants even now are leaving these premises without any other accommodation?
§ 76 Lieut.-Colonel HURSTasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware of the distress among tenants of business offices and shops in Manchester caused by the receipt of notices to quit without being given any option to buy or to pay increased rents; and whether he can bold out any hopes of giving such premises statutory protection before June quarter day or at all;
(2) whether he is aware that the business of electroplaters carried on by a number of ex-service men, under the style of Brunner Brothers, at 22, Oxford Road, Manchester, is threatened with eviction in June without having any possible alternative accommodation; and whether be will seek to extend to works of this type the protection afforded to dwelling-houses by the Rent Restriction Acts?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Dr. Addison)Pending consideration of the Report of the Committee on the Rent Restriction Acts, I am unable to make any announcement as to the extension of those Acts to business premises.
§ Major NALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the removal of tenants from business premises is becoming quite as acute as housing, and will he assure the House that this question will be dealt with in the forthcoming Bill?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe hon. Member must be aware that the Report of the Committee was only received two days ago. We are now considering it, and the Bill will be introduced as soon as possible.
§ Major NALLIs it not the fact that the Committee was more concerned with the question of housing and did not take evidence on the question of business premises.
§ Dr. ADDISONI think the Report will be in the hands of the hon. Member today, and from it he will see that they referred to that question.