§ 29. Mr. Dayasked the Minister of Agriculture the present amount of arrears of ground rent on Crown Lands in Regent Street; the number of cases where arrears exceed one year's rental; and particulars of any scheme of relief that has been introduced to assist old tenants who, although they have been tenants in Regent Street for a number of years, have not been able to meet the arrears?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe actual arrears now amount to £133,000, but of this sum £86,000 is gradually being repaid quarterly, under agreements made with the tenants, so that there remains a real total of only £47,000 not yet collected, actually or prospectively. The number of cases where arrears exceed one year's rental is nine, but six of these are covered by the agreements for gradual repayment.
1703 As regards the last part of the question, the Commissioners have granted temporary remissions of ground rent, not normally exceeding 15 per cent., in cases where old tenants trading in the street have proved the need for relief and are paying a ground rent to the Commissioners exceeding 25s. a square foot. They have also promised relief to old tenants who, as sub-tenants, are paying an unusually high rent to Crown lessees with a ground rent exceeding 25s., and they have written off the whole or part of the arrears in a few cases of special hardship.
§ Mr. DayDo not the Minister's advisers consider that these rents are very much too high for the present-day conditions?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe whole matter has been under review, and they consider that the present agreements are fair excepting in those cases in which we have granted relief.
§ Mr. MabaneCan the Minister say in how many cases there have been reductions in the rentals?