§ 2. Mr. Piratinasked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to introduce legislation forbidding landlords and property owners to include in their agreements with tenants a clause prohibiting the letting of property to coloured persons.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo, Sir. Whilst I cannot myself make any ruling binding upon the courts, I have already expressed the view that a clause in a lease or other agreement discriminating between different classes of His Majesty's subjects on 3 the ground of colour may well be void under the existing law as being contrary to the rules of public policy upheld by the English courts. Whatever may be the practicability of legislation, it is manifestly impossible to introduce it at present.
§ Mr. PiratinBut will not the Attorney-General give consideration to the possibility of such legislation, as he will recall recently the case of the London County Freehold and Leasehold Properties, Limited, who have imposed such a clause in their agreements, which is a very sad reflection on human rights in this country?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have given consideration to the possibility of such legislation, and my answer was directed to that possibility. I think that the case to which the hon. Member referred was one with which I dealt in a previous answer some time ago, when I said that it was doubtful whether such clauses were valid.