§ 22. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take regarding the letter sent him by the hon. Member for Salford, East, regarding a firm of landlords, E. Ross Ltd. of Bolton, who, having failed to induce three widows, all old age pensioners, to buy the houses in Salford in which they have been tenants for more than 30 years, have sent them notices stating that their houses are decontrolled and raising their rents by 17s. 6d. a week.
§ Sir K. JosephI have referred the matter to the local authority to consider 792 whether there has been any contravention of the Rent Act, 1957.
§ Mr. AllaunAs this kind of trick is being played on controlled tenants all over the country, does not the Minister think that, where court convictions are obtained, severe sentences should be imposed and that this would have an effect on other guilty landlords?
§ Sir K. JosephIt is not for me to make any such comment about the judiciary. I have no evidence that this practice, if it does exist, is widespread.
§ Mr. M. StewartAre the three ladies referred to in the Question examples of the old people who have nothing whatever to worry about, of whom we were told in a Conservative television show recently?
§ Sir K. JosephThey certainly have nothing whatsoever to worry about if they take advantage of their legal rights preserved to them by law.