§ 22. Mr. Cliffeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will introduce legislation to prevent residential property which is in reasonable condition and let to tenants being re-developed for industrial or other purposes which would result in tenants being rendered homeless.
§ Mr. RipponNo, Sir. Shortage of housing is a factor for the local planning authority to take into account before granting permission for redevelopment. If it is not itself the housing authority for its area, it is obliged under the law as it stands to consult that authority before reaching a decision. In the event of disagreement the case has to be referred to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. CliffeI thank the hon. Member for that reply, but unfortunately the blueprint he has just related to the House is not the one that operates in practice. Now that we have had the Rent Act in operation for five years there is sufficient evidence to prove that there exists widespread human misery caused by insecurity of tenure, by landlords demanding exorbitant rents from properties which are sub-standard, although tenants have spent literally hundreds of pounds on their homes and then been given notice to quit——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I hope that the hon. Member will now ask a question It is beginning to sound rather like a speech.
§ Mr. CliffeCan I ask what the Minister is prepared to do about it? Thousands of letters must have gone to the Ministry, and letters and protests are going there now. I have received a letter from the Ministry in reply to the same question, but it is in such vague terms that it tells me nothing and I thought that this would be an opportunity of getting a reply.
§ Mr. RipponThe hon. Gentleman may be referring to a letter Which I 683 wrote to him in connection with the next Question. I do not think that there is any difficulty about powers. This Question simply relates to the redevelopment of residential property for other purposes.