HC Deb 05 June 1957 vol 571 cc1411-21

Lords Amendment made: In page 37, line 38, after "Act" insert: (including any sum irrecoverable by virtue of section fourteen thereof)".—[Mr. H. Brooke.]

Lords Amendment: In page 41, line 25, leave out from "effect" to "in" in line 26.

11.0 p.m.

Mr. H. Brooke

I beg to move. That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Perhaps it would 14: for the convenience of the House if we discussed, at the same time, the further Lords Amendments, in line 28, leave out "twenty-six pounds 'and sixteen pounds' "and insert" and twenty-six pounds '"and in line 29, leave out from" pounds'" to end of line 33 and insert "and fifty-two pounds.'".

Revised rental figures which were inserted in Section 2 of the Housing Act, 1926, will apply, by paragraph 22 of this Schedule, only to contracts entered into after the commencement of the Act. The Bill, as introduced, contained no provision relating to that Section 2, which imposes certain conditions relating to the letting of houses below a certain rateable value.

Reference was made to this matter from the benches opposite on the Second Reading, and a Government Amendment was added at a later stage—in fact, paragraph 22—to meet the point in a comprehensive way by doubling the figure mentioned in Section 2. That seemed to do rough justice and to be a fair way of proceeding, but it was pointed out in another place that paragraph 22 went too far, and, in seeking to do rough justice, did injustice in that it would apply to existing contracts. The Lords Amendment was, therefore, made to limit the operation of paragraph 22 to contracts entered into after the commencement of the Bill.

There are two reasons. One is that if Section 2 applies to existing contracts it will continue to apply despite any increase of rent under the Bill. The second is that if Section 2 does not apply it would be wrong that the Section should be applied to existing contracts now, because that would import another provision after the parties had contracted on the basis that the landlord had no such implied liability for repairs as is put on him by Section 2. I hope that the House will agree that it would be unreasonable to import a provision in that way. The sole purpose of the Lords Amendment is to correct that injustice.

Mr. MacDermot

I should be grateful if the Minister could clarify his explanation a little further. I have fears that the Lords Amendment will operate in a manner different from what he said. Section 2 of the Housing Act, 1936, reproduces the provisions of Section 1 of the Housing Act, 1925, to give a very necessary protection to tenants of certain small dwellings which were let at a very low rental. The protection was to compel the landlord both to put and to keep the premises in a habitable state. Most tenancies of this kind are made in such a way that there is no provision for repairs on either side in the contract. What the Section did was to introduce into the contract by legislation a provision that the landlord should be responsible at least for that minimum of repairs. The tenancies to which it applied were tenancies in the London area, where the rent was up to £40, and outside the London area, where the rent was £26 a year.

There was a further provision that tenants of dwellings outside large towns who held by reference to a contract made before 31st July, 1923, had the advantage of the implied term only if the rent did not exceed 6s. 8d. a week. That was so where the tenant held as a contractual tenant, or where he held as a statutory tenant. As I understand the provision, it was governed by what the rent was at any particular moment, including when the rent had been increased by a statutory notice served by the landlord passing on to the tenant any increase in rates.

The position under the Bill as it stands is that the protection to tenants of such dwellings is extended to cases where the rent is up to I3s. 4d. a week. That is the effect of the words in paragraph 22 as at present drafted, and of the £16. What the proposed Amendment does is not merely to deal with the question of the retrospective effect of the paragraph but it also deals with that part which doubled the £16. The effect, as I understand the paragraph, is that virtually all tenants within that class of property will now lose the protection of the implied terms, the reason for that being that the landlord will be entitled to increase the rent by the appropriate factor, in most cases increasing the rent to double the gross value, that is to say, double the 1939 letting value.

It follows from that that in virtually all cases the rent will be at least double, if not more. The landlord, therefore, will be given the power to increase the rent, virtually to double it, in order to do repairs and at the same time will he exempted from the legal liability to keep the place fit for human habitation. I shall be grateful if the Minister can explain that a little further.

Mr. H. Brooke

If I may speak again with the leave of the House, I hope that I shall be able to satisfy the hon. Member. He is fearful lest certain tenants who at present enjoy, shall I say, the protection of Section 2 of the 1936 Act will lose it through their rent being increased consequent on this Measure. I can assure him that is not so.

If they have a contract to which Section 2 of the 1936 Act already applies, I am satisfied that that Section will continue to apply, although the rent rises. The reason for that is that it is the rent at the date at which the contract is entered that is material for the purposes of the application of that Section.

Mr. Mitchison

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know his own mind? We introduced this point at an early stage in the discussions on this Bill. We put down an Amendment and the right hon. Gentleman did something quite simple which we could readily understand. He doubled the figures in Section 2 of the Housing Act of 1936. What he has done now, as far as I can see, is to remove protection altogether from a class of people in agricultural areas. Apparently, the Tory Party believes in giving them subsidies, but not any protection against the landlord.

Mr. Brooke indicated dissent.

Mr. Mitchison

I see the right hon. Gentleman shaking his head, but will he tell me what he means by the omission from this Clause of the reference to £16 and twice £16—which, for his information, is £32—which appeared in the original Clause? If he can tell me that, would he mind stopping shaking his head?

Let us see what the Clause is. It is the only protection that most of the tenants of small houses have against landlords. As a rule, nobody as between the one and the other is responsible for repairs, and Parliament, as long ago as 1925 at least, deliberately put in a Section of this nature, notwithstanding any contractual arrangement, to protect the tenants of small houses.

I have looked at the corresponding Section in the Housing Act, 1925, and but for a couple of quite immaterial. verbal differences the language is exactly the same as is in force today, and, what is far more important, the figures 2.re exactly the same. Apparently, it takes the stimulus of an active Opposition and an Amendment on the Notice Paper to induce the Minister of Housing and Local Government in a Tory Government to think that it is about time that the limits of 1925 were included; and surely, in all conscience, they are.

Why is the right hon. Gentleman now withdrawing from the concession he made in his own Clause, introduced by him, in his own drafting, which I suppose he understood quite clearly, in Committee? Is the party opposite entirely dominated by what happens in another place? What is the reason for this change? Why is it that when there is any question of a concession to landlords, the party opposite strain every point in their favour and give them the benefit of every doubt, whereas the moment there is a question of this quite small concession to

Division No. 140.] AYES [11.14 p.m.
Agnew, Sir Peter Cole, Norman Comme-Duncan, Col. Sir Alan
Aitken, W. T. Conant, Maj. Sir Roger Goodhart, Philip
Allan, R. A. (Paddington, S.) Cooke, Robert Gough, C. F. H.
Alport, C. J. M. Cooper, A. E. Gower, H. R.
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Cordeaux, Lt.-Col. J. K. Graham, Sir Fergus
Anstruther-Gray, Major Sir William Corfield, Capt. F. V. Grant, W. (Woodside)
Arbuthnot, John Craddock, Beresford (Spelthorne) Grant-Ferris, Wg Cdr. R. (Nantwich)
Armstrong, C. W. Crowder, Petre (Ruislip—Northwood) Green, A.
Ashton, H. Cunningham, Knox Gresham Cooke, R.
Astor, Hon. J. J. Currie, G. B. H. Grimond, J.
Atkins, H. E. Dance, J. C. G. Grimston, Hon. John (St. Albans)
Baldock, Lt.-Cmdr. J. M. Davidson, Viscountess Grimston, Sir Robert (Westbury)
Baldwin, A. E. D'Avigdor-Goldsmid, Sir Henry Grosvenor, Lt.-Col. R. G.
Balnicl, Lord Deedes, W. F. Gurden, Harold
Barber, Anthony Digby, Simon Wingfield Hall, John (Wycombe)
Barlow, Sir John Dodds-Parker, A. D Hare, Rt. Hon. J. H.
Barter, John Doughty, C. J. A. Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N.W.)
Baxter, Sir Beverley Drayson, G. B. Harris, Reader (Heston)
Beamish, Maj. Tufton du Cann, E. D. L. Harrison, A. B. C. (Maldon)
Bell, Philip (Bolton, E.) Dugdale, Rt. Hon. Sir T. (Richmond) Harrison, Col. J. H. (Eye)
Bennett, F. M. (Torquay) Duthie, W. S. Harvey, Air Cdre A. V. (Macclasfd)
Bennett, Dr. Reginald Eccles, Rt. Hon. Sir David Harvey, Ian (Harrow, E.)
Bevins, J. R. (Toxteth) Eden, J. B. (Bournemouth, W.) Harvey, John (Walthamstow, E.)
Bidgood, J. C. Elliott, R.W.(N'castle upon Tyne. N.) Harvie-Watt, Sir George
Birch, Rt. Hon. Nigel Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. (Kelvingrove) Hay, John
Bishop, F. P. Emmett, Hon. Mrs. Evelyn Heald, Rt. Hon. Sir Lionel
Black, C. W. Errington, Sir Eric Heath, Rt. Hon. E. R. G.
Body, R. F. Erroll, F. J. Henderson, John (Cathcart)
Boothby, Sir Robert Farey-Jones, F. W. Henderson-Stewart, Sir James
Bossom, Sir Alfred Finlay, Graeme Hesketh, R. F.
Bowen, E. R. (Cardigan) Fisher, Nigel Hill, Rt. Hon. Charles (Luton)
Boyd-Carpenter, Rt. Hon. J. A. Fletcher-Cooke, C. Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe)
Boyle, Sir Edward Forrest, G. Hill, John (S. Norfolk)
Braine, B. R. Fort, R. Hirst, Geoffrey
Braithwaite, Sir Albert (Harrow, W.) Foster, John Hobson, John (Warwick & Leam'gt'n)
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W. H. Fraser, Hon. Hugh (Stone) Holland-Martin, C. J.
Brooke, Rt. Hon. Henry Freeth, Denzil Holt, A. F.
Brooman-White, R. C. Galbralth, Hon. T. G. D. Hope, Lord John
Browne, J. Nixon (Cralgton) Gammans, Lady Hornby, R. P.
Bullus, Wing Commander E. E. Garner-Evans, E. H. Hornsby-Smith, Miss M. P.
Butcher, Sir Herbert George, J. C. (Pollok) Horobin, Sir Ian
Carr, Robert Gibson-Watt, D. Horsbrugh, Rt. Hon. Dame Florence
Chichester-Clark, R. Glover, D. Howard, Gerald (Cambridgeshire)
Clarke, Brig. Terence (Portsmth, W.) Godber, J. B. Howard, Hon. Greville (St. Ives)

tenants, particularly to tenants of very small houses in agricultural districts, we get the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friend first making a concession and then withdrawing it?

I know perfectly well why they have withdrawn it, but I must not refer to what happened in another place. I can only say that if any hon. Member chooses to look up the reason, he will not find it satisfactory for the withdrawal from tenants of small houses, particularly very small houses, old houses, in agricultural districts, of the one protection they have got by way of getting repairs done by landlords. I regard this Amendment as a small but not unimportant and entirely typical alteration of the Bill made under this Government in another place. We shall, of course, oppose it.

Question put That the House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment:—

The House divided: Ayes 297, Noes 223.

Howard, John (Test) Macpherson, Niall (Dumfries) Roper, Sir Harold
Hudson, W. B. A. (Hull, N.) Maddan, Martin Russell, R. S.
Hughes Hallett, Vice-Admiral J. Maitland, Cdr. J. F. W.(Hornoastle) Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard
Hughes-Young, M. H. C. Manningham-Buller, Rt. Hn. Sir R. Schofteld, Lt.-Col. W.
Hulbert, Sir Norman Markham, Major Sir Frank Scott-Miller, Cmdr. R.
Hurd, A. R. Marlowe, A. A. H. Sharpies, R. C.
Hutchison, A. M. C. (Edinburgh, S.) Marples, Rt. Hon. A. E. Shepherd, William
Hutchison, Sir Ian Clark(E'b'gh, W.) Marshall, Douglas Simon, J. E. S. (Middlesbrough, W.)
Hutchison, Sir James (Scotstoun) Mathew, R. Smithers, Peter (Winchaster)
Hyde, Montgomery Maudling, Rt. Hon. R. Smyth, Brig. Sir John (Norwood)
Hylton-Foster, Bt. Hon. Sir Harry Mawby, R. L. Soames, Christopher
Iremonger, T. L. Medllcott, Sir Frank Speir, R. M.
Irvine, A. J. (Edge Hill) Milligan, Rt. Hon. W. R. Spence, H. R. (Aberdeen, W.)
Jenkins, Robert (Dulwich) Molson, Rt. Hon. Hugh Spens, Rt. Hn. Sir P. (Kens'gt'n, S.)
Jennings, J. C. (Burton) Moore, Sir Thomas Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard
Jennings, Sir Roland (Hallam) Morrison, John (Salisbury) Stevens, Geoffrey
Johnson, Dr. Donald (Carlisle) Mott-Radclyffe, Sir Charles Steward, Harold (Stockport, S.)
Johnson, Eric (Blackley) Nabarro, G. D. N. Steward, Sir William (Woolwich, W.)
Jones, Rt. Hon. Aubrey (Hall Green) Nairn, D. L. S. Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.
Joseph, Sir Keith Neave, Airey Storey, S.
Joynson-Hicks, Hon. Sir Lancelot Nicholls, Harmar Stuart, Rt. Hon. James (Moray)
Kaberry, D. Nicolson, N. (B'n'm'th, E. & Chr'ch) Studholme, Sir Henry
Keegan, D. Nugent, G. R. H. Summers, Sir Spencer
Kerby, Capt. H. B. O'Neill, Hn. Phelim (Co. Antrim, N.) Sumner, W. D. M. (Orpington)
Kerr, H. W. Ormsby-Gore, Rt. Hon. W. D. Taylor, Sir Charles (Eastbourne)
Kershaw, J. A. Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Taylor, William (Bradford, N.)
Kimball, M. Orr-Ewing, Sir Ian (Weston-S-Mare) Teeling, W.
Kirk, P. M. Osborne, C. Temple, John M.
Lambton, Viscount Page, R. G. Thomas, Leslie (Canterbury)
Langford-Holt, J. A. Pannell, N. A. (Kirkdale) Thomas, P. J. M. (Conway)
Leather, E. H. C. Partridge, E. Thompson, Kenneth (Walton)
Leavey, J. A. Paton, John Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R. (Croydon, S.)
Leburn, W. G. Pickthorn, K. W. M. Thornton-Kemsley, C. N.
Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H. Pike, Miss Mervyn Tiley, A. (Bradford, W.)
Legh, Hon. Peter (Petersfield) Pilkington, Capt. R. A. Turton, Rt. Hon. R. H.
Lennox-Boyd, Bt. Hon. A. T. Pitman, I. J. Tweedsmuir, Lady
Lindsay, Hon. James (Devon, N.) Pitt, Miss E. M. Vane, W. M. F.
Linstead, Sir H. N. Pott, H. P. Vaughan-Morgan, J. K.
Llewellyn, D. T. Powell, J. Enoch Vickers, Miss Joan
Lloyd, Rt. Hon. G. (Sutton Coldfield) Price, David (Eastlelgh) Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.)
Price, Henry (Lewisham, W.) Wakefield, Sir Waved (St. M'lebone)
Lloyd, Maj. Sir Guy (Renfrew, E.) Prior-Palmer, Brig. O. L. Wall, Major Patrick
Longden, Gilbert Profumo, J. D. Ward, Rt. Hon. G. R. (Worcester)
Low, Rt. Hon. A. R. W. Raikes, Sir Victor Ward, Dame Irene (Tynemouth)
Lucas, P. B. (Brentford & Chiswick) Ramsden, J. E. Waterhouse, Capt. Rt. Hon. C.
Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Rawlinton, Peter Watkinson, Rt. Hon. Harold
McAdden, S. J. Redmayne, M. Whiteiaw, W. S. I.
Macdonald, Sir Peter Rees-Davies, W. R. Williams, Paul (Sunderland)
McKibbin, A. J. Remnant, Hon. P. Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Mackie, J. H. (Galloway) Renton, D. L. M. Wills, G. (Bridgwater)
McLaughlin, Mrs. P. Ridsdale, J. E. Wood, Hon. R.
Maclay, Rt. Hon. John Rippon, A. G. F. Woollam, John Victor
Maclean, Fitzroy (Lancaster) Robertson, Sir David Yates, William (The Wrekin)
McLean, Neil (Inverness) Robinson, Sir Roland (Blackpool, S.)
Macleod, Rt. Hn. Iain (Enfield, W.) Robson-Brown, W. TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Macmillan, Maurice (Halifax) Rodgers, John (Sevenoaks) Mr. Oakshott and Mr. Bryan.
NOES
Ainsley, J. W. Burton, Miss F. E. Dye, S.
Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) Butler, Herbert (Hackney, C.) Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C.
Allen, Arthur (Bosworth) Butler, Mrs. Joyce (Wood Green) Edelman, M.
Allen, Scholefleld (Crewe) Callaghan, L. J. Edwards, Rt. Hon. John (Brighouse)
Awbery, S. S. Carmichael, J. Edwards, Rt. Hon. Ness (Caerphilly)
Bacon, Miss Alice Castle, Mrs. B. A. Edwards, Robert (Bilston)
Baird, J. Champion, A. J. Edwards, W. J. (Stepney)
Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J. Chapman, W. D. Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.)
Bence, C. R. (Dunbartonshire, E.) Chetwynd, G. R. Fernyhough, E.
Benn, Hn. Wedgwood (Bristol, S.E.) Clunie, J. Fienburgh, W.
Benson, G. Coldrick, W. Finch, H. J.
Baswick, Frank Collick, P. H. (Birkenhead) Fletcher, Eric
Blackburn, F. Corbet, Mrs. Freda Forman, J. C.
Blenkinsop, A. Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton)
Blyton, W. R. Cronin, J. D. Gaitskell, Rt. Hon. H. T. N.
Boardman, H. Cullen, Mrs. A. George, Lady Megan Lloyd(Car'then)
Bowden, H. W. (Leicester, S.W.) Dalton, Rt. Hon. H. Gibson, C. W.
Bowles, F. G. Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.) Gordon Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C.
Boyd, T. C. Davies, Harold (Leek) Greenwood, Anthony
Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Davies, Stephen (Merthyr) Grey, C. F.
Brockway, A. F. Deer, G. Griffiths, David (Rother Valley)
Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. Delargy, H. J. Griffiths, Rt. Hon. James (Llanelly)
Brown, Rt. Hon. George (Belper) Dodds, N. N. Griffiths, William (Exchange)
Brown, Thomas (Ince) Donnelly, D. L. Hale, Leslie
Burke, W. A. Dugdale, Rt. Hn. John (W. Brmwoh) Hamilton, W. W.
Hannan, W. Mellish, R. J. Slater, Mrs. H. (Stoke, N.)
Hayman, F. H. Mikardo, Ian Slater, J. (Sedgefield)
Healey, Denis Mitchison, G. R. Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.)
Henderson, Rt. Hn. A. (Rwly Regis) Monslow, W. Snow, J. W.
Herbison, Miss M. Moody, A. S. Sorensen, R. W.
Hewitson, Capt. M. Morris, Percy (Swansea, W.) Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank
Hobson, C. R. (Keighley) Mort, D. L. Sparks, J. A.
Holmes, Horace Moss, R. Steele, T.
Howell, Denis (All Saints) Moyle, A. Stewart, Michael (Fulham)
Hubbard, T. F. Mulley, F. W. Stonehouse, John
Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey) Noel-Baker, Francis (Swindon) Stones, W. (Consett)
Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) Oliver, G. H. Strachey, Rt. Hon. J.
Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Oram, A. E. Strauss, Rt. Hon. George (Vauxhall)
Hunter, A. E. Orbach, M. Stross, Dr. Barnett (Stoke-on-Trent, C.)
Hynd, H. (Accrington) Oswald, T. Summerskill, Rt. Hon. E.
Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe) Owen, W. J. Swingler, S. T.
Irving, Sydney (Dartford) Padley, W. E. Sylvester, G. O.
Isaacs, Rt. Hon. G. A. Paget, R. T. Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield)
Janner, B. Paling, Rt. Hon. W. (Dearne Valley) Taylor, John (West Lothian)
Jeger, Mrs. Lena (Holbn & St. Pncs. S.) Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) Thomas, George (Cardiff)
Jenkins, Roy (Stechford) Palmer, A. M. F. Thomas, Iorwerth (Rhondda, W)
Johnson, James (Rugby) Pannell, Charles (Leeds, W.) Thomson, George (Dundee, E.)
Johnston, Douglas (Paisley) Pargiter, G. A. Thornton, E.
Parker, J. Tomney, F.
Jones, David (The Hartlepools) Parkin, B. T. Ungoed-Thomas, Sir Lynn
Jones, Jack (Rotherham) Pearson, A. Usborne, H. C.
Jones, T. W. (Merioneth) Pentland, N. Warbey, W. N.
Kenyon, C. Plummer, Sir Leslie Watkins, T. E.
King, Dr. H. M. Popplewell, E. Weitzman, D.
Lawson, G. M. Prentice, R. E. Wells, William (Walsall, N.)
Lee, Frederick (Newton) Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) West, D. G.
Lee, Miss Jennie (Cannock) Probert, A. R. Wheeldon, W. E.
Lever, Harold (Cheetham) Proctor, W. T. White, Henry (Derbyshire, N.E.)
Lewis, Arthur Pryde, D. J. Wigg, George
Lindgren, G. S. Pursey, Cmdr. H. Wilcock, Group Capt. C. A. B.
Lipton, Marcus Randall, H. E. Williams, David (Neath)
Mabon, Dr. J. Dickson Rankin, John Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
MacColl, J. E. Redhead, E. C. Williams, Rt. Hon. T. (Don Valley)
MacDermot, Niall Reeves, J. Williams, W. R. (Openshaw)
McGhee, H. G. Rhodes, H. Williams, W. T. (Barons Court)
McGovern, J. Robens, Rt. Hon. A. Willis, Eustace (Edinburgh, E.)
Mclnnes, J. Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
McKay John (Wallsend) Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvon) Winterbottom, Richard
MaoMillan, M. K. (Western Isles) Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.) Woof, R. E.
MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) Yates, V. (Ladywood)
Mahon, Simon Ross, William Younger, Rt. Hon. K.
Mainwaring, W. H. Short, E. W. Zilliacus, K.
Mallalieu, J. P. W. (Huddersfd, E.) Silverman, Julius (Aston)
Mann, Mrs. Jean Silverman, Sydney (Nelson) TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Mason, Roy Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill) Mr. Wilkins and Mr. J. T. Price.
Mayhew, C. P. Skeffington, A. M.

Further Lords Amendments made: In page 41, line 28, leave out "twenty-six pounds 'and sixteen pounds' "and insert" and twenty-six pounds'."

In line 29, leave out from "pounds'" to end of line 33 and insert "and fifty-two pounds.'"

In line 40, leave out "Act of" and insert: Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act,".—[Mr. H. Brooke.]

Lords Amendment: In page 43, line 2, at beginning insert:

28. Section five of the Removal Terms (Scotland) Act, 1886, shall have effect as if at the end thereof there were added the following— Provided that in no case shall notice of removal be given less than twenty-eight days before the date on which it is to take effect.

29. Section thirty-eight of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act, 1907, shall have effect as if at the end of thereof there were added the following— Provided that in no case shall notice of removal be given less than twenty-eight days before the date on which it is to take effect.

30.—(1) The House Letting and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1911, shall be amended as follows.

(2) In section four for the words "the next payment" in the first place where they occur there shall be substituted the words "a payment", and for those words in the second place where they occur there shall be substituted the words "that payment", and in paragraph (b) of the proviso for the words from "except" to the end of the section there shall be substituted the words "so, however, that in no case shall the notice be given less than twenty-eight days before the date on which it is to take effect."

(3) In section five for the words "forty-eight hours" there shall be substituted the words "twenty-eight days".

The Solicitor-General for Scotland

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This Amendment, although rather lengthy, is simple. It gives to the Scottish tenant the right of the four weeks' notice to quit, the provision which was inserted in the Bill at an earlier stage.

Question put and agreed to.

Further Lords Amendment made: In page 43, line 34, at beginning insert "Paragraph 1.".—[The Solicitor-General for Scotland.]