§ 71. Sir BASIL PETOasked the Minister of Health whether he can now give any indication of the Government's intention with regard to the continuing or the amendment of the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restriction Act?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, made on this subject yesterday in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Sheffield, Park (Mr. Lathan).
§ Sir B. PETOWill the Minister consider setting up a Departmental Committee before whom evidence can be given both by tenants and owners of small house property coming under the Rent Restrictions Acts, so that when the Government introduce legislation they will have all the facts before them?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI should say that to set up such a Committee would be a work of supererogation. I think we are quite familiar with the hardships.
§ Sir KINGSLEY WOODIs that not all the more reason why some legislation should be proceeded with this year?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe right hon. Gentleman had an opportunity to see about legislation at any time during the last few years.
§ 84. Mr. ARNOTTasked the Minister of Health if, in renewing the Rent Restrictions Act, he will consider the insertion of provisions making it illegal for owners of controlled houses to raise the rents of their tenants to meet any increased charges due to the reduction of excessive compounding allowances under the Rating and Valuation Act of 1925?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI may perhaps refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister yesterday that it-is proposed immediately to provide for the continuance of the Rent Restrictions Acts by means of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, and if this is done it will not be practicable to introduce amendments at that stage. I am not sure what my hon. Friend's precise proposal is, but I will have his suggestion in mind for future consideration.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhen the right hon. Gentleman is considering the housing policy as a whole, will he pay particular attention to this point in view of the fact that he spoke and voted against this very allowance to landlords during the last Parliament?
§ Mr. GREENWOODCertainly I will consider it.