HC Deb 19 July 1966 vol 732 cc357-8
29. Mr. Whitaker

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to ensure that professional witnesses in Rent Act appeal cases are in future called by the panel and not by parties.

25. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether arrangements will be made for tenants to have the assistance of qualified surveyors when appearing before rent assessment committees.

Mr. Grossman

I am at present considering this problem, but I cannot yet say anything further.

Mr. Whitaker

Would my right hon. Friend consider, in the alternative, granting legal aid to those tenants who are at present severely handicapped by their inability to afford the professional assistance open to the landlords and property companies?

Mr. Crossman

Yes. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for putting this to me, because this is one of the deficiencies of the operation of the Act: the apparently one-sided representation now going on before the rent assessment committees. I am in communication with the R.I.C.S. to see if we can arrange a "poor man's surveyor service." It is such a service one needs when appearing before the rent assessment committees and not a "poor man's lawyer".

Sir Knox Cunningham

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that this may tend to take away the judicial aspect and substitute an inquisitorial one?

Mr. Crossman

On the contrary, the problem we face is that in a very large number of cases the landlord is represented by a lawyer and a surveyor, or a surveyor, and the tenant is not. It is most important not only to make it look right but to have it right so that the tenants should be able to get adequate representation.