HC Deb 10 April 1957 vol 568 cc1101-3
Mr. M. Stewart

I beg leave to present a Petition signed by several thousand citizens of the Metropolitan Borough of Fulham and elsewhere. The Petition is addressed to this honourable House and points out that there are in this area very many families who, despite their unsatisfactory housing conditions, have no chance or hope of being rehoused for many years to come. It points out further that many of the privately rented houses in the area are in an unsatisfactory state of repair, with no hope of restoration by private landlords. It shows, further, that the Rent Bill now before Parliament would, if it became law, cause nearly one-third of these families to be subjected either to notice to quit or to rent increases without any guarantee of repairs, and would impose upon the remainder the liability to rent increases rising in some cases to 20s. a week, and that this would cause hardship and disruption of family life on a great scale.

The Petition concludes with these words: Wherefore, your Petitioners pray that the Bill be so amended that tenants shall not be evicted from their homes unless equivalent alternative accommodation is provided; that rents shall not be increased unless dwellings are in good habitable repair with reasonable amenities; and that in default of these amendments the Bill shall be rejected. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. I would ask, in accordance with the Standing Order, that the Clerk of the House should read the text of the Petition.

Captain Pilkington

On a point of order. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether there is anything to stop—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Petition must first be presented.

Petition brought to the Table.

Captain Pilkington

On a point of order. Is there anything to stop an hon. Member making this sort of statement, lasting may be the whole of Question Time? Is not the rule being abused by hon. Members opposite at present?

Mr. Speaker

I think I expressed myself quite clearly on that subject yesterday. In any event, an hon. Member could not use the whole of Question Time, because Questions are bound to start at a quarter to three o'clock.

The CLERK OF THE HOUSE read the Petition, which was as follows:

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.

The Humble Petition of the Undersigned citizens of the Metropolitan Borough of Fulham.

Sheweth:

That in this area there are more than 4,000 families to whom, despite the serious overcrowding and unsatisfactory housing conditions from which they suffer, the local authority can offer no hope of rehousing for many years to come. Further that the privately rented houses mostly occupied by two or more families and built during the last century are mainly in a condition of decay and largely beyond hope of restoration by private landlords.

In these conditions the proposals of Her Majesty's Government, in the Rent Bill now before Parliament,

  1. (a) To grant powers to the owners of nearly one-third of these houses to serve on the occupants comprising some 9,000 families notice to quit, or of rent increases without any guarantee of necessary repairs,
  2. (b) To serve on the occupants of the remaining houses notice of rent increase exceeding in some cases 20s. a week, will inflict misery, hardship and disruption of family life on a scale impossible to bear.

Wherefore, your Petitioners pray that the Bill be so amended that tenants shall not be evicted from their homes unless equivalent alternative accommodation is provided; that rents shall not be increased unless dwellings are in good habitable repair with reasonable amenities; and that in default of these amendments the Bill shall be rejected.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

To lie upon the Table.

Mr. Parkin

I desire to present a Petition, in similar terms to that presented by my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. M. Stewart), on behalf of a large number of citizens of Paddington, St. Marylebone and elsewhere.

To lie upon the Table.

Mr. Hunter

I desire to present a Petition, in terms similar to those presented by my hon. Friends the Members for Fulham (Mr. M. Stewart) and Paddington, North (Mr. Parkin), signed by citizens of Feltham and elsewhere protesting at the hardship which will be caused by the threatened evictions and rent increases arising from the Rent Bill.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

To lie upon the Table.