§ 20. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that advertisements in provincial newspapers reveal offers being made for furniture and fittings, in order to obtain tenancies of rented houses; and as it is an offence to accept such offers, but not an offence to make them, if he will amend the Housing Acts to make the giver as well as receiver equally guilty of an offence.
§ Mr. H. BrookeIt is not an offence to accept a reasonable price for furniture, fittings or fixtures; it becomes an offence only if the price asked is unreasonable and therefore amounts to a premium—and, of course, if the tenancy is controlled. Advertisements of the kind referred to could not therefore be declared illegal.
§ Mrs. MannIs the Minister aware that advertisements such as these show that the advertiser is asking for a house to rent and offering a premium for furniture and fittings which he or she has never seen? How can the premium be related to the value of the furniture? Is it not about time that this racket was stopped? Does it not indicate that in legislation which is going through the House at the moment the position should be tightened up, far he who offers is just as offensive as he who accepts—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Lady has other Questions on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. BrookeThe hon. Lady knows, as the House knows, that I am extremely anxious that legislation against premiums and unreasonable charges for fixtures and fittings should be watertight, but if she will think about it I am sure she will recognise that legislation against advertisements of this kind would not be sensible or practicable.