§ 3. Mr. Marquandasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps are taken by the National Assistance Board to recover increases of rent paid to the landlord of a house, occupied by a tenant who is receiving National Assistance in respect of rent, when that landlord, after the expiry of six months, has failed to fulfil a statutory undertaking given by him to put the house into good repair.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe National Assistance Board informs me that it expects tenants receiving National Assistance in respect of their rent to exercise their rights under the Rent Act, 1957, and where a tenant in so doing withholds rent, his assistance allowance is adjusted accordingly. The Board's officers discuss these problems with the recipients of National Assistance where they arise.
§ Mr. MarquandSurely it sounds rather extraordinary to say that one expects tenants receiving National Assistance to do this. Does not the Minister know that many of these tenants are mortally frightened of their landlords and are afraid to seek to secure their rights under the Act? Does not the National Assistance Board make some special effort to get in touch with these tenants to make sure that the landlords are not defrauding the Revenue by continuing to extort a wrongful rent?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterUnder the procedure to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, it is very much to the interest of the tenant, if the repairs specified in the notice are not being carried out, to ensure that they are carried out, otherwise he lives in accommodation which is less sound and less good than otherwise it would be. As to the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, it is, of course, the practice of the Board's officers to discuss the problem when it arises with the recipient of National Assistance. It is certainly not their practice to cut off assistance in advance of such discussion or such action being taken, but if the tenant appears unreasonably to refuse to exercise his rights, then I think it would be the duty and the 852 practice of the Board to adjust his assistance accordingly.
§ Mr. MarquandIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the officials of the Board cannot visit every one of these tenants every week and that it cannot always be aware of what has happened? Has he taken note of the letter in the Manchester Guardian of 25th June from Mr. Roberts, a public health inspector, who says:
This deduction to which the tenant is entitled is in many cases not being made either through ignorance of the Act or apathy, since the tenant will not himself benefit financially.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI can only say that the writer of the letter seems to have overlooked the fact that the tenant will benefit by having his accommodation put in order. As to the rest of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I have made it clear that the Board expects and generally finds that the recipients of National Assistance behave sensibly and responsibly as other people do. I should not like to accept the suggestion that there is irresponsibility on the part of recipients of National Assistance.
§ Mr. MarquandI did not say "irresponsibility"; I said "apathy". Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House that the Board has sent appropriate instructions to its officers throughout the country drawing their attention to the possibility of this abuse?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIf the right hon. Gentleman wished special instructions to be sent on every point of this kind, a great many instructions would go out. I am satisfied that the Board's officers are carrying out their duty sensibly and humanely.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsCould not the Board's Advisory Committees with its special knowledge of the circumstances in the areas be asked to give advice and keep in contact with the Board?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI will consider any suggestion from the right hon. Gentleman on that subject, though I must reserve my position on whether on consideration it appears that the suggestion would in fact be useful.