§ 1. Mrs. Cullenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average increase of rent which will be permitted under the Rent Bill on tenanted and controlled houses remaining under control in Glasgow, in other parts of Scotland and in Scotland as a whole; and over how many houses in each case is the average reckoned.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. J. Nixon Browne)My right hon. Friend has no means of estimating the average increase in rent which will be permitted under the Rent Bill but the increases throughout Scotland will range from about 1s. to a maximum of 4s. per week in the case of the "1956 Act increase"; and from about 2s. to a maximum of 8s. per week in the case of the revised repairs increase under the 1954 Act.
§ Mrs. CullenIs the hon. Gentleman aware that on Saturday, 24th November, worried and angry tenants from all over Scotland will descend on St. Andrew's House to protest against the Bill? Will the hon. Gentleman consider its withdrawal?
§ Mr. BrowneI am afraid that we cannot possibly consider the withdrawal of the Bill. I would point out to the hon. Lady that, out of 640,000 houses, the increase will apply only to houses that are in good and tenantable repair and not in any other respect unfit for human habitation.