§ 47. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the Secretary of State for Scotland on municipal housing, at the annual dinner of the National Federation of Property Owners at Pitlochry on 21st May represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterWhat my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland said fully represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. HughesCan we take it from that Answer that the Prime Minister has no intention of promoting the Secretary of State for Scotland to be the Foreign Secretary? Is the Prime Minister aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland said that council house tenants were the new privileged class who were paying disproportionately low rents and it would take time to complete the work that must be done? Does that mean that the Government are contemplating further legislation or action to increase the rents of municipal tenants?
§ The Prime MinisterNo. It is a matter for municipal authorities, but I have observed over the country as a whole that there is a general recognition that the problem of local government rents is something which local authorities ought to take care of and that the rents should be in relation to the current economic situation and have some regard both to the needs of the tenants and to the incomes of the tenants.