§ 45. Mr. STEPHENasked the Prime Minister if he intends to provide facilities for legislation in the autumn for the reduction of rents to the pre-war rates in the case of houses built previous to the war; and if he is aware that many thousands of those houses are more than 50 years old, and that they are let at rentals much in excess of that charged in the first five years of their existence?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. Clynes)No, Sir. No such legislation is in contemplation for the Autumn Session.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs that another Labour scheme gone west?
§ Mr. STEPHENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware how urgent this problem is in consideration of the difficult circumstances in which so many of the working classes are situated to-day?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe Government are well aware of the real grievances referred to in the question; but the present Government cannot command anything like a majority in this House to carry through legislation of the kind.
§ Lord EUSTACE PERCYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government have never announced a policy on this subject, and does he not consider that it is somewhat cowardly—if I may use that expression—to put off the responsibility of the Government on to the other parties in this House?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIn consequence of the sneering remarks from both sides, will the right hon. Gentleman make them—[interruption.]
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that great hardship is being felt by a large number of working-class families in industrial areas owing to the high rents they are charged for had old houses, and does not this matter constitute a very urgent problem to be dealt with, a problem more urgent than some of the questions with which the Government have already dealt?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put that question on the Paper.
§ Mr. MAXTONArising out of the answer to the question, does the right hon. Gentleman not know from the expressions of opinion which he has heard in this House that there is a demand that legislation along the lines indicated should be introduced?
§ Mr. BECKERAre the Government in favour of charging pre-War rents for old houses: and do they say that they are not able to do so because they have not got a majority?
§ Mr. CLYNESI will offer no answer to that—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—but it is because of the enormity of the difficulties that I can offer no prospect whatever now of the Government undertaking this in the Autumn Session.
§ Mr. STEPHENI beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt would not be in order then to raise any matter which involves legislation.
§ Mr. BUCHANANI beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment to-morrow.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is a matter that requires legislation.
§ Mr. BUCHANANI am concerned now with the question of present legislation, in so far as the present Act provides that, where rents are increased, there should be to a certain degree proper sanitary conditions to justify the increase of rent which is charged?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf I can find that anything of that kind can be done without legislation, I will certainly consider the question.
§ Mr. STEPHENShould I be in order, on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill, in drawing the attention of the Government to the number of houses in an unsanitary condition and asking various questions about the rents of those houses?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot discuss that at Question Time, but I will certainly consider it.