§ 41. Mr. John Hayasked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation to give a right of appeal from the decisions of local rent tribunals to a Central Appellate Tribunal.
Mr. JaanerWill my right hon. Friend take into consideration, before he considers this point at all, the fact that tenants who apply to rent tribunals are not permitted any costs and that the rent tribunals themselves are not in a position to employ counsel in cases where they are in difficulty?
§ Sir H. WilliamsDo I understand that the right hon. Gentleman's original answer was that the Statute prevents him from introducing further legislation?
§ Mr. BevanThat answer was to a supplementary question. My original 1126 answer was that this was very adequately discussed when the matter was before the House. On the whole, I think the experience of these rent tribunals has been very satisfactory. There have been 57,000 applications made to the rent tribunals since they have been established, and only 200 complaints of varying kinds have been received. I think experience has shown that it is far better to leave the tribunals to establish what they consider to be a fair rent in the light of the facts presented to them.
§ Mr. HayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a case which was heard on 29th March the Lord Chief Justice himself recommended that this particular matter should be dealt with?