§ 8. Mr. Freesonasked the Minister of Social Security what instructions have been issued to officers of the National Assistance Board regarding increases in rent allowances to retired persons, widows and others in need whose rents may be increased by rent officers or rent assessment committees following referral by landlords when repairs or other basic improvements have been carried out.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Social Security (Mr. Norman Pentland)If, as will usually be the case, the existing rent is already being met in the Board's allowance, any increase of this kind would be allowed for.
§ Mr. FreesonI thank my hon. Friend for that sympathetic reply. Will he bear in mind that, over the next one or two years, under the procedure laid down in the 1965 Rent Act, there is bound to be a growing number of cases in which rent will be increased as a result of that procedure and as a result of improvements to property being put before the local rent officers and rent assessment committees? Will he prepare the divisions within his Department for the necessary applications and encourage them to be made by the pensioners concerned?
§ Mr. PentlandYes, Sir, and if my hon. Friend has in mind any case in regard to this, I should be glad to look into it.