§ 42. Mr. Alldrittasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the chairman of the rent assessment committee in Liverpool has stated that he is not prepared to allow a member of the city council to represent a constituent before him, contrary to Schedule 3, paragraph 11, of the Rent Act; and what action he is taking under Schedule 2 to the Act.
§ Mr. CrossmanI understand that the councillor in question is a member of the Liverpool Rent Assessment Panel, and I agree with the president's view that members of the panel should not also take part in proceedings before either rent officers or rent assessment committees. Councillors who are not members of the panel may of course do so.
§ Mr. AlldrittIs not my right hon Friend aware that a precedent has been created for this in assessment panels and tribunals set up under the National Insurance Act, and the precedent which is observed in these cases is that the person involved shall not take part in an assessment in which he or she is personally interested?
§ Mr. CrossmanThe point which I was making was that it is wiser that a person who is to appear before a panel should not be a member of it. On the whole, we think that these two positions should be kept separate. One could appear before somebody else's panel in another town, but not in one's own town.