13. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will introduce amending legislation to assist tenants against whom orders for possession are made under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1958, and for whom no alternative accommodation is available.
§ Mr. H. BrookeIn view of the discretion given to the courts under the Landlord and Tenant Act, I958, I do not think that further measures are necessary.
Mrs. ButlerIs the Minister aware that at Edmonton County Court recently the judge, dealing with tenants who were old age pensioners, told them that if they took an order for possession along to the council the council would have to help them, and accordingly made an order for possession in six weeks? Is he further aware that in another case, of a labourer aged 63, the judge said that the kindest thing to do would be to make an order for possession and then the labourer could get accommodation from the council? The judge gave that advice although all the local authorities in the area had long waiting lists with little hope of being able to house the people on them. Is it the Minister's intention to allow these people to be evicted without taking further action to help them?
§ Mr. BrookeThe number of cases coming into court so far under the Landlord and Tenant Act has been far smaller than many people prophesied when the Measure was before the House. I have no reason to believe that the number of cases of difficulty will be too great for local authorities to be able to cope with them.