§ 38. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects the first decisions on rent reductions by a rent assessment committee will be reached and announced.
§ Mr. CrossmanRent assessment committees in Greater London, which is the first area to come into operation, are not likely to hear cases before the latter part of this month, but in the normal course their decision would be announced at the hearing, which can be attended by the Press.
§ Mr. AllaunWill the Minister note, I hope with pleasure, that some London landlords are now accepting rent reductions of up to £3 12s. per week without taking cases to the rent assessment committees, which suggests that they do not regard those reductions as unreasonable?
§ Mr. CrossmanI am delighted to hear that news, particularly because the time taken by our rent officers is longer than we anticipated, and it is very important that people should read the cases that have now been published and draw their own conclusions about the kinds of agreements that can be reached between landlords and tenants.