77. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICKHALL asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a considerable number of men who left their homes to join the Colours during the Great War have, since their demobilisation, purchased houses, and in many cases have been unable to obtain possession of the same; that in some instances these ex-service men have been allowed, on sufferance, to occupy a small portion of the accommodation in the houses they have actually bought; and whether he is prepared to take steps to amend the Rent Restriction Acts so as to secure for such ex-service men immunity from the annoyance of sharing with other people the homes which they have purchased for the purpose of living therein with their wives and children?
§ Sir K. WOODThe question of what privileges should be extended to ex-service men was very fully discussed in this House in 1920, and as a result certain provisions were inserted in the Act of 1920 which are still in force. While my right hon. Friend has every sympathy with the cases to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, he is afraid that it would not be desirable to introduce fresh legislation at the present time, for the reason which he gave on the Second Reading of this year's Act to prolong the duration of rent control.