HC Deb 12 March 1957 vol 566 cc974-5
43. Mrs. L. Jeger

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many prosecutions have been brought to the last convenient date for contravention of the law relating to key money and disguised premiums.

Mr. H. Brooke

Prosecutions are undertaken by individual local or police authorities, who do not inform me of the number undertaken.

Mrs. Jeger

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the continuing frustration that there is to desperate members of the public over this question of disguised key money? Is he also aware that every newspaper every day carries advertisements to this effect and that I have one in front of me asking £1,000 or near offer for furniture and fittings? Surely this is a matter of public interest about which he should take more definite action.

Mr. Brooke

I have already told the House this afternoon that I am extremely anxious that the law on this subject should be watertight but it really cannot be made illegal for someone to offer in an advertisement furniture and fittings because if the amount asked is not higher than the value of the furniture and fittings no offence is created.

Mrs. Jeger

Is this not a quite unrealistic and nonsensical answer? Does not the Minister know that people are so desperate for housing accommodation that if they can scrape this money together they are not going to question the propriety or the legality of what is done? Surely this is nothing but exploitation of a desperate need about which he should do something.

Mr. Brooke

The hon. Lady is not giving evidence of exploitation. If the law is broken then it is possible to prosecute.