34. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if there is any intention on the part of the Government to amend the Rent Restrictions Act, with a view to preventing house factors and proprietors making use of the present vagueness in the Act to induce tenants to pay increased rents under the impression that the houses they occupy have been decontrolled?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONI am not in a position to give any undertaking as to legislation in the near future amending the Rent Restrictions Acts. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that, where the question of decontrol or rent questions arising therefrom are in doubt, the tenant may have recourse to the Sheriff Court in terms of Section 11 of the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1923.
Mr. MACLEANDoes not the hon. Member realise that this places the onus upon the tenant of taking the factor or house agent into a court for what is undoubtedly a breach of the law, and ought to be operated by the Fiscal in Glasgow or any part of Scotland Will he not ask his right hon. Friend whether something cannot be done either to amend the present Rent Restrictions Act, or to ensure the Crown taking proceedings against those factors who are perpetrating fraud upon poor tenants?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe hon. Gentleman will doubtless have seen the public statement made by the Lord Advocate, which shows that the subject matter of his supplementary question is presently being considered.
Mr. MACLEANThe statement made by the Lord Advocate with regard to a particular tenant in Scotland simply 962 throws the onus back upon the tenant, as the hon. Gentleman has done in his answer to the question, and he only permits the tenant to go back for six months whereas the increase of rent may have been for 12 months.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONThe fact that my hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has made this public statement shows that the whole subject matter of rent restriction and decontrol is engaging the attention of the Law Officers of Scotland.