HC Deb 19 July 1966 vol 732 cc359-60
41. Mr. Alldritt

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for rent adjustment have been made in Liverpool; and what were the results to date.

Mr. Crossman

258 applications for registration of rent had been made to rent officers in Liverpool up to 9th July, of which 76 had been determined. The rent was reduced in 55, unchanged in 10 and increased in 11 cases. Objections to 11 determinations had been referred to a rent assessment committee.

Mr. Alldritt

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of the reductions are more apparent than real, in that a deliberately high artificial rent is created so that a reduction to the previous decontrolled rent might be established and that is established as the rent for all the properties in the area?

Mr. Crossman

The Liverpool situation will take some time to settle down. I suggest to my hon. Friend that we should wait a few weeks longer before we draw any conclusion about the level of rents there.