§ 25. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases in Glasgow increases in rents in accordance with recent legislation have been refused.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneUp to 30th June, 1955, thirteen applications by landlords in Glasgow for certificates of repair to 839 enable them to claim repairs increases in rents under the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Act, 1954, had been refused.
In addition, repairs increases in respect of 435 houses in Glasgow were suspended by the issue of certificates of disrepair. In 191 of these cases, however, the certificates were subsequently revoked on the landlord carrying out the necessary repairs.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Minister aware that these figures are no indication of the vast number of cases in which the landlords have not even attempted to put into operation the provisions of the Act, and does he realise that, at least in Glasgow, the Act is failing completely in its purpose?
§ Mr. BrowneThe Act is only in its first year of operation, and, as yet, it is too early to say how effective it will be. There are many properties in Glasgow in regard to which the Act has been and can be effective, but I appreciate that in the hon. Gentleman's constituency there are many bad properties where these provisions of the Act can never apply, and for which the only solution is to pull them down.