§ 40. Mr. Harry Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that excessive sums of money are being asked for and obtained by property owners for the sale of dwelling-houses belonging to them; that, in many cases, the wives of men serving in His Majesty's Forces are the victims of these excessive demands; what action he proposes to take to prevent the increasing exploitation of the acute housing shortage; and whether he will consider introducing legislation directed to preventing owners of dwelling-houses obtaining, upon the sale of their houses, a sum in excess of the value of the property on 31st March, 1939, plus 30 per cent.
§ Mr. WillinkI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 28th September last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for West Dorset (Major Digby).
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIs the Minister aware that representations were made and evidence was furnished to his Department in April of this year; that action was then promised, that nothing has as yet been done, and that the evil has grown a great deal worse; and does he not agree that, if it is possible to control the price of building, furniture and food, it should be possible to control the price of houses?
§ Mr. WillinkI think my hon. Friend is under a misconception. Consideration and not necessarily action was promised, and if my hon. Friend will refer to the answer to which I referred, he will see that the matter is very closely linked to rent control, on which I am awaiting advice.