HC Deb 20 March 1952 vol 497 c2545
38. Mr. Richard Adams

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to control the rents charged to stall holders in covered markets with a view to preventing the exploitation of these people.

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

Stallages in markets maintained under a public or local Act or under a charter are subject either to my approval or to statutory limits, or to the common law doctrine that such charges must be reasonable. If the hon. Member has other charges in mind, perhaps he would be good enough to let me have details of them.

Mr. Adams

Is the Secretary of State aware that in London in particular there are many covered markets in the hands of private landlords, that these rents are going up almost every week and contributing to the rising cost of living, and will he do something about this?

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

I should be grateful if the hon. Gentleman will let me have details. I will, with pleasure, look into them.