§ 4. Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the Minister of Health, whether he is aware of the serious damage to house property due to statutory tenants letting rooms at abnormally high rents; and how soon may an amendment to the Rent Restrictions Acts be expected which will give some relief from the war-time burdens exclusively suffered by owners of property?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh)I am not clear what my hon. Friend has in mind, but if he will send me particulars I will look into the matter. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer him to my right hon. Friend's recent statement about the appointment of an Inter-departmental Committee to review the whole field of rent restriction.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisWhat is the difficulty in this Question that it cannot be understood?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe hon. Gentleman asked about "the serious damage to house property due to statutory tenants letting rooms at abnormally high rents." I am not certain what he means about damaged property on that account. If he will let me know, I will look into it.
§ Mr. Craven-EllisIs the hon. Lady not aware that if a house is overcrowded, the use of it by an excessive number of people, more than it was built to accommodate, must result in heavy repairs?
§ Miss HorsbrughIf the hon. Gentleman had said that overcrowding caused the damage, I would have understood his Question more clearly.