§ 27. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that housing schemes for the erection of dwellings to accommodate working-class persons are being held up by reason of the fact that there are two or three persons on the site who decline to accept alternative accommodation on account of their rights to continue their present tenancies under the Rent Restrictions Act; and whether any action will be taken by the Government to deal with cases of the kind?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINMy hon. Friend will no doubt recollect that under paragraph (e) of Section 5 (1) of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, as amended by Section 4 of the Act of 1923, the Courts are empowered to grant possession if a house is reasonably required for any purpose which is in the public interest. I know of at least one case in which this power has been used to facilitate the carrying out of a housing scheme. With regard to the suggested amendment of the Act, I would remind my hon. Friend that it was found necessary to extend the Rent Restrictions Acts in their present form for another year owing to the impossibility of finding time during this Parliament to consider any Amendments.