§ 48. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for Air in how many cases of houses owned by his department the rents have been increased since the passage of the Rent Act, 1957; to what extent the increases in rent have been related to the tenants' ability to pay; and what has been the average amount by which rents have been raised.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. W. J. Taylor)The rents of some 2,300 civilian occupied houses have been increased by an average of 5s. 10d. a week. The increases are not related to the tenants' income.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhy should the Government use the excuse of the Rent Act, passed to benefit private landlords, to increase rents of their own houses? Is it not a fact that these houses were not affected by the Rent Act but are tied houses whose tenants have no legal rights whatever? Will not the hon. Gentleman consult the Minister of Housing and Local Government, who is constantly telling us that rent increases should be related to the tenant's ability to pay?
§ Mr. TaylorIt has been decided in principle that the tenants of Government-owned houses should pay a fair rent, as they would if the properties were privately owned. I could not justify introducing a differential rent scheme, which would mean giving a hidden subsidy to Government tenants. It seems right that civil servants in Government-owned 1288 houses should pay what would be a fair rent as between a private landlord and a private tenant.