§ 35. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that all sections of the community have had their income reduced by 50 per cent. since 1920, whereas rents have not been reduced, the Government will take immediate steps to reduce the rents of working-class houses in proportion to the ability of the tenants to pay?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Johnstone).
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the rents fixed from 1919 onwards are wholly inconsistent with present-day conditions, and will he ask his right hon. Friend whether it is not now time, in the altered circumstances, either to change the terms of the present law or to provide some other opportunity whereby the situation might be dealt with?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREIf and when the Government decide to deal with this question, there will be ample opportunity of discussing it.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSYes, but can the hon. Gentleman inform the House when the Government are likely to be ready to deal with this question?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI cannot anticipate the programme for next Session.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODArising from the original reply, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is not aware that the landlords of this country had an increase 1776 granted to them, of 48 per cent. as far as Scotland is concerned, because there was an increase in wages at that time? Now that there has been a decrease in wages, and everything else has been decreased but house rent, is he not going to consider the advisability of reducing rents to meet the power of the people to meet those rents?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI do not think that this is the time to discuss questions arising out of the Rent Restrictions Act.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI would like to ask this question of the Prime Minister, who is in his place, because he gave a pledge to the country that he was going into this question of rents, which is one of the gravest questions so far as the working-class people of this country are concerned?
§ Mr. HARCOURT JOHNSTONEWill my hon. Friend draw the Minister's attention to the very urgent necessity for dealing with this question, since it is an undoubted fact that the rents of houses in this country are the most formidable burden that the working class have to bear?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend is quite aware of the urgency of the matter.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODCan I have a reply from the Prime Minister? This is a more serious business than all the Ottawa that ever was.