HC Deb 13 March 1950 vol 472 cc734-5
27. Mrs. Rees

asked the Attorney-General when the report of the Committee that has been considering the question of leaseholds will be published.

29. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Attorney-General when he expects to receive the final report of the Committee on Leasehold Reform.

30 and 31. Mr. Janner

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he is aware that there is a continual increase in cases of hardship resulting to small shopkeepers, tenants of offices and leaseholders on the termination of their tenancies; and whether he will take steps to obtain a final report speedily from the Leasehold Committee which has been appointed;

(2) whether, pending the receipt of the final report from the Leasehold Committee, he will introduce legislation to deal with the hardships of tenants of business premises referred to in the interim report of that committee.

The Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross)

The Government propose to defer reaching a decision on the proposals contained in the Interim Report of the Committee on Leasehold Reform until they have had an opportunity of considering any recommendations that may be made in the Committee's final report. The Committee are now drafting their final report, which they hope to submit before long.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Will my right hon. and learned Friend ask those concerned to put in a little overtime on the preparation of their final report, so that we can get some leasehold reform in the lifetime of this Parliament?

The Attorney-General

The matter, as my hon. and gallant Friend knows, is a very difficult and complicated one, and a good deal of work has been put into its consideration.

Mr. Janner

If the report is not available very shortly will my right hon. and learned Friend consider the cases of a large number of people whose positions are made extremely difficult, if not entirely impossible, in consequence of the fact that they are being turned out of their premises at present? If the report is delayed, will he bring in some kind of legislation to crystallise the position as it stands at present, so that sitting tenants concerned are not ejected?

The Attorney-General

I have no doubt that the Questions put down, as well as the discussion we had on Friday, will have come to the notice of the Committee. I hope the report will not be very long delayed.

Mr. Derek Walker-Smith

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind, when considering the last supplementary question, the extent to which the statute law in regard to landlords and tenants and rent restriction has been bedevilled and confused by piecemeal legislation?