§ 85. Mr. SHAKESPEAREasked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the proposed legislation on slum clearance, he proposes to establish local rent-courts to fix rents of decontrolled houses?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a previous similar question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall (Mr. McShane), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in my constituency, when slum property becomes decontrolled, as much as 10s. a week is charged for two rooms; and will he not take some powers to stop this shameless profiteering in raising rents?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe real answer to that question is, that one must destroy the slum. If a slum is a slum, it ought not to be inhabited.
§ Sir K. WOODWas the right hon. Gentleman always of that opinion?
§ Mr. GREENWOODYes.
§ Miss RATHBONEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that a serious obstacle in the way of destroying the slum is the fact that there are not houses into which to put the slum tenant, because when the houses which are controlled become vacant they are immediately decontrolled and the rent is put up; and is not that a reason for the rent control of houses after they have become vacant?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe object of the Bill which is shortly to come before this House is to provide the necessary new alternative accommodation.
§ Mr. SULLIVANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no such thing as a decontrolled house?