HC Deb 26 February 1958 vol 583 cc369-71
45. Mr. Lipton

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs at Hampstead last Saturday relative to the re-letting of decontrolled premises represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)

I have been asked to reply.

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Lipton

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what is the sense of bulldozing through Parliament a law giving landlords the power to evict and then uttering grave threats about what will be done if they use this power? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these cat-and-mouse tactics do nothing to relieve the agony of mind of untold numbers of tenants, especially in London? May we now have a firm assurance, without any more wriggling on the part of the Minister of Housing and Local Government or anyone else, that no evictions will be allowed next October?

Mr. Butler

The Question asked the Prime Minister whether this speech represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government. My answer remains, "Yes, Sir". I do not accept in the hon. Member's words the motives or the design of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

Mr. Jay

As this is a matter of the greatest concern to many thousands of people in London and elsewhere, can the Lord Privy Seal say whether an amendment of this Act is being prepared by the Government?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. I answered the Question which is on the Paper. I draw attention to the concluding words of my right hon. Friend's speech, in which he said that he would be watching closely to see how things went on. I think it would be in the interests of all to see what effect my right hon. Friend's speech has.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is the Lord Privy Seal aware that the impression created by the Minister's speech was that if landlords did not behave properly he would do something about it? We are asking whether "doing something about it" means amending legislation, and, if so, when the Government will make up their mind to introduce this legislation.

Mr. Butler

I cannot go further than the words used by the Minister of Housing and Local Government in his speech—namely, that he gave a warning to landlords and said that he would watch the situation. I think that the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends should agree that my right hon. Friend should watch the situation and not make up his mind until he has seen what happens.

Mr. Gaitskell

We welcome this slight change in the Minister's outlook, but we are a little suspicious about it in view of our past experience of him. What I want to know is under what conditions the Minister is prepared to introduce amending legislation.

Mr. Butler

I have nothing more to add to what I have said. The purposes of the Rent Act are quite clear—namely, that it was introduced in the general national interest. Hon. Members opposite know that it was introduced in that spirit just as well as I do. My right hon. Friend has noticed certain actions and he has made certain observations. Until we can see the result it would be wrong for me to go any further.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the Biblical quotation that there is more joy … over one sinner that repenteth …"?