§ 42. Lieut.-Colonel Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the subletting at excessive profits of municipal houses; and whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements in Scotland to control this practice are adequate to safeguard the interests of tenants as a whole?
§ Mr. ElliotI have seen a recent Press report indicating that Cumnock Town Council have decided to make a full inquiry into allegations about the subletting of their houses. With regard to the latter part of the question, under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1935, a local authority must make it a condition of every let that the tenant shall not sub-let the house without the written consent of the authority, who must, before giving consent, satisfy themselves that only a reasonable rent is to be charged for the sub-let. The attention of local authorities was recently drawn to these provisions which in my opinion should be adequate.