§ 7.51 p.m.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI beg to move, in page 6, line 6, at the end, to insert:
An occupier of a dwelling-house who is required by an officer of the local authority duly authorised in that behalf to produce for inspection by the authority any rent book or similar document which is being used in relation to the house and is in the custody of the occupier or under his control shall, on being so required as aforesaid or within seven days thereafter, produce any such book or document to the officer or at the offices of the authority, and if he fails so to do he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two pounds.A promise was given in the Committee stage on this matter, and the Amendment fulfils that promise. Clause 6 provides that every rent book or similar document used in relation to a dwelling-house shall contain certain prescribed statements, broadly speaking, relating to the law of overcrowding as laid down in Part I of the Act, and also the permitted number 103 of persons, and if a rent book or similar document does not contain the information it is made an offence. Some hon. Members said that the local authority had no power to require the production of the rent book, and we promised on the Report stage to put the matter right. The Amendment gives the local authority access and makes it an offence if, after the expiration of seven days, the occupier does not produce the rent book or similar document.
§ Amendment agreed to.