§ The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:
§ 45. LIEUT.-COLONEL LIPTONTo ask the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for administering the slum properties in Brixton, and elsewhere, now owned by the Crown as the result of a decision by the Court of Appeal in the case of Morelle Limited versus Water-worth; and to what address tenants and local authorities should write if repairs to these properties are needed.
§ Mr. SpeakerLieut.-Colonel Lipton.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonOn a point of order. The Prime Minister usually does hon. Members the courtesy of letting them know whether he will be in his place to answer Questions, thus providing hon. Members with an opportunity of transferring Questions to another day. On this occasion, I received no such intimation. May I therefore ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you would consider that I am entitled, if I so wish, to defer my Question to another day when the Prime Minister will be present?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have nothing to do with the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's statement, but he is too late now to have his Question transferred.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)I have been asked to reply.
The Crown has not taken possession of any of this property and does not at present propose to do so. It is hoped that the validity of the court's decision will be tested in legal proceedings in the near future. In the meanwhile inquiries about the property should be addressed to the Treasury Solicitor.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWill the Lord President of the Council give an assurance that the Crown will not be as elusive and slippery as the previous landlord of these properties, Arthur Bertram Waters? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Crown is now breaking the law by refusing to carry out its legal obligations as landlord, as laid down by the three very learned and distinguished judges in the Court of Appeal? Why are the Government flouting that decision?
§ Mr. CrookshankI am not the Lord President of the Council, but if the hon. and gallant Member wants him to know about this, I will see that he is also informed. Meanwhile, I have nothing to add to the careful statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General in reply to the hon. and gallant Member in the Adjournment debate on 1st November.
§ Mr. JannerIs the right hon. Gentleman suggesting that there is at present a case sub judice and that proceedings have been commenced to upset the finding of the Court of Appeal? If not, will he explain why the Crown is not performing the obligation under the Rent Acts to provide a rent book to tenants? Assuming that the Crown does not fulfil its obligations, will the right hon. Gentleman take proceedings to fine or send anyone to prison for this failure in accordance with the terms of the Rent Acts?
§ Mr. CrookshankI hope that the hon. Member will study not only the very careful reply which I have given on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, but also the recent debate to which I have referred.