HC Deb 14 March 1961 vol 636 cc1186-7
30 and 31. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister for Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) how many cases were dealt with in 1960 by the Barking Rent Tribunal: and why it is proposed shortly to close this tribunal.

(2) if he is aware that serious inconvenience will be caused to rent appellants in Barking, Ilford, East and West Ham, and Plaistow by the proposed closing of the Barking Rent Tribunal and the merging of this tribunal with one at Islington; and if, in view of the distance that appellants would have to travel, the overcrowded state of the list of cases to be heard at Islington and the consequent delays, he will reconsider this decision.

Mr. Brooke

During 1960 the Barking Rent Tribunal fixed the rent payable in 86 cases and extended the tenant's security of tenure in 46. For some time the area served by this tribunal has not produced enough work to justify the maintenance of a separate tribunal, as the figures show. Amalgamation with the Islington Tribunal will not cause inconvenience to rent appellants in either area, because under the new arrangements cases will continue to be heard locally as necessary, and the number of sittings will be increased.

Mr. Driberg

Despite the figures which the right hon. Gentleman has quoted to show that, in his view, it is not justifiable to keep this tribunal in existence, would he agree that they did substantially increase during the winter months—this winter? Would he explain a little more clearly what he means by saving that the tribunal will continue to sit locally? Does that mean in the same premises as the old tribunal?

Mr. Brooke

I am quite satisfied, even on the latest figures, that there is no overload of work to justify the continuance of a separate tribunal. What I have in mind is that we should find new premises for the tribunal, which will not be the old Islington premises but will be more central to the whole area, and also that the tribunal, when necessary, will sit locally. I do assure the hon. Member that we are not seeking to give tenants long travelling tasks.

Mr. Driberg

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether when he says "central to the whole area" he means to treat Islington, Barking and East Ham as one area, because if so there will still be quite a long journey for some? Does he realise that, if it is going to be more inconvenient or slower for tenants to get redress, that will only encourage bad landlords not to mend their ways?

Mr. Brooke

No, I do assure the hon. Member that, first of all, we want to find new premises which will be nearer the centre of the new combined area than any premises at present in use are, and secondly, that the tribunal will be capable of sitting locally in different boroughs and not always in the one centre.

Mr. Driberg

Good.