§ 2. Mr. Donnellyasked the Attorney-General if he is yet able to state whether the Government intend to introduce legislation to extend leases now falling in pending more comprehensive legislation at a later date.
§ 4. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Attorney-General if, pending implementation of the Leasehold Committee Final Report, he will introduce legislation to restrain, prevent or stay execution of judgments or orders for possession of leasehold premises which are based on the expiry of the terms of the leases of such premises.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross)The whole matter is receiving the fullest consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement as to the Government's proposals.
§ Mr. DonnellyWill the Attorney-General convey to his noble Friend the fact that every day on which he and my right hon. and learned Friend deliberate another lease falls in and another home in my constituency is threatened? It is six weeks since the Government have had the Leasehold Committee's Report, and something should be said now.
§ The Attorney-GeneralAs I said when my hon. Friend last asked me a question about this matter, the urgency of the problem is very fully understood, but the complications of dealing with it equitably by legislation are enormous. They are being very carefully weighed up by my noble Friend, and I can assure my hon. Friend that that study is being carried out with all possible expedition.
§ Mr. Hector HughesWould my right hon. and learned Friend consider setting up tribunals with power to stay executions in certain cases, and so reduce the amount of hardship being inflicted?
§ The Attorney-GeneralProposals of that kind and of other kinds are receiving consideration.
§ Mr. Derek Walker-SmithWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind how far the Statute Book has been bedevilled by piece-meal and temporary legislation in regard to landlord and tenant, and will he further have in mind, in regard to the suggestion just made about tribunals, that the methods of the rent tribunals set up under the 1949 Act have not given universal satisfaction?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI agree with the hon. Member that the general law on this matter is in a very piece-meal state. So far as the position of rent tribunals is concerned, having regard to the very large number of cases that these tribunals have dealt with, I should have thought myself that it was fair to say that on the whole they have done a very satisfactory job.
§ Mr. JannerWill my right hon. and learned Friend consider making it clear that, if he cannot take immediate steps to stop the rot that is setting in, any proceedings which will be taken later will be retrospective in so far as it is possible to make them so?