§ 20. Mr. G. R. STRAUSSasked the Minister of Health whether local authorities have made any extensive use of their powers under Section 2 (6) of the Rent Act, 1932, to prosecute persons who knowingly make false declarations calculated to lead to the belief that a house of the rateable value of £20 in the Metropolitan police district and £13 elsewhere is decontrolled; and whether, in view of the fact that the prescribed form of registration for the decontrol of a house requires no statement of fact, he will take steps to stop the illegal registration of decontrol which is now proceeding on an extensive scale throughout the country?
Sir H. YOUNGWith regard to the first part of the question, no returns are made to me of the number of prosecutions of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. With regard to the second part of the question, the register is a register of claims that houses were decontrolled before 18th July, 1933, and does not in any way affect the question whether, in 994 fact, a particular house on the register is, or is not, decontrolled. Further, all such claims had to be made by 18th October, 1933, and registration can now be effected only with the express consent of the county court.
§ Mr. STRAUSSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that thousands of tenants all over the country are being induced to pay rents higher than they need in the belief that these decontrol declarations are legal form?