HC Deb 25 October 1960 vol 627 cc2136-7
26. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he has taken to deal with the practices of certain landlords and their agents regarding the eviction of tenants, as described to him by the hon. Member for Deptford.

Mr. H. Brooke

The hon. Member will be aware that action has already been taken by the Registrar of Friendly Societies in the particular case to which he drew attention. For the protection of immigrants who may be unfamiliar with England I am seeking to arrange for an extension of the advice offered to them before they embark on house purchase.

Sir L. Plummer

Does not the Minister appreciate that it is comparatively easy to deal with tricksters of this kind but very difficult to deal with the hardship caused by the decontrol for which he is responsible; and that in fact all sorts of perfectly decent but quite simple people are being robbed of their rights, are being dispossessed or are being forced to pay exorbitant rents? Will not the right hon. Gentleman look at this situation, which needs his attention, particularly in London?

Mr. Brooke

I am very anxious that local authorities and other bodies should give tenants the fullest information about the provisions of the Rent Act and I am not going back on decontrol.