§ 33. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Health why he has sent a series of circulars to local authorities to increase 2146 rents, when the local authorities do not receive the rents but account for them to his Department.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Key)I would refer the hon. Member to the letter of 2nd April to local authorities, which was published in HANSARD of 8th April, and which set out the basis on which the rents of requisitioned premises should be assessed. In this matter local authorities act as agents for the Government. In some cases they had been charging too little, in other cases they had been charging too much; there were, therefore, both increases and decreases of rent.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Health is a party to the rent racket? May I have an answer?