43 Colonel NEWMANasked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is aware of the demand of the retail trading community for adequate security of tenure of their business premises on fair terms; is he prepared to introduce the necessary legislation during the next Session of Parliament;
(2) for how many months the Committee dealing with the interests of owners and tenants in business premises has been sitting; and if their Report will be presented before Christmas?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Select Committee on Business Premises which is dealing with the matters referred to was set up on the 22nd June last, and has been sitting regularly ever since; the 45 Committee has called a large number of witnesses and is now about to consider its Report which, it is hoped, will be published before Christmas. Until the Report is received it cannot be decided whether legislation is necessary.