HC Deb 03 March 1964 vol 690 cc1114-6
6. Mr. Denis Howell

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he communicated officially with Mr. H. M. Madeley, of 202 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, about the proposal of this landlord to evict two women and their children from 11 York Avenue, Bolton Road, Small Heath; if he is aware that, despite the information he gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Small Heath, that no pressure had been exerted upon the tenants to vacate the premises, they are to be evicted; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Corfield

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I communicated with Mr. Madeley, I have no reason to believe that the information which I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Small Heath was inaccurate and I do not think any statement is called for on my part.

Mr. Howell

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me why it was that this wretched landlord, who decided to evict two women and their children, who had lived in the house for 24 years, for no other reason than that their mother, the previous tenant, had died—and he did that within a very short period of days indeed—[Interruption.] The landlord, after I had spoken to his solicitor, agreed that the tenants could stay in the house provided they paid almost double rent, and as this was the only alternative way of keeping a roof over their heads, this was agreed to. There was also a condition that 13 weeks' rent should be paid in advance. The solicitor and I agreed on the monstrous terms—[HON. MEMBERS:"Speech."]—I am taking a long time over this. If hon. Members opposite were being evicted, they would want some time taken over it. After that solemn agrement had been reached with the landlord's solicitor, the Minister with whom I communicated must have got in touch—[HON MEMBERS: "Question."]

Mr. Speaker

Order. I understand all the emotions involved, but the rules of the House exist in the interests of all of us. The hon. Member is making assertions at the moment. Would he mind putting them interrogatively?

Mr. Howell

I will, Mr. Speaker. I am doing my best to state the facts on which I want to base my question. [An HON. MEMBER: "The hon. Member is not allowed to do that."] Mr. Speaker will tell me, not hon. Members opposite. Let hon. Members opposite look after their own interests. I will look after mine. The point I want to put is: in view of what I have just said, why was the solemn agreement which I reached with the landlord's solicitor broken immediately after I had a letter dated 24th January from the Joint Parliamentary Secretary telling me the facts that I have set out in my Question, that no pressure was being put on the tenants? Why was it that, notwithstanding that reply from the Joint Parliamentary Secretary and the agreement I had reached with the landlord's solicitor, the landlord sent back the deposit money which had been agreed and has now decided to evict these unfortunate women and their children?

Mr. Corfield

With due respect to the hon. Member, I cannot be held responsible for the action of a private landlord in Birmingham.

Mr. Howell

Why not?

Mr. Corfield

As to the information that I gave the hon. Member, I had an wholly unsolicited letter from Mr. Madeley, sent to his own Member of Parliament, who forwarded it to me.

Mr. Howell

I rise on a point of order to say that I shall raise the subject on the Adjournment.