§ 24. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the non-availability of statistics kept by his Department relating to the number of controlled tenancies in England and Wales which are without bathrooms or showers and internal lavatories.
§ Mr. ChannonThis information could not be obtained without an expensive special survey. Much information about private unfurnished accommodation in 1287 general will be available from the 1971 Census.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisHow can the Government legislate about controlled tenancies when, apparently, they do not even know the size of the problem? How many decrepit tenancies are likely to be affected by the substantial rent increases which the Government are encouraging?
§ Mr. ChannonWhat the hon. Gentleman should be concerned about is that, since the Housing Act, 1969, came into force, there have been only 5,000 controlled properties moved into rent regulation following improvements. His Government expected 200,000.
§ Mr. DormandOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I realise the value of Questions put down by my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis), but I should like to have your guidance, and I imagine that the House would, too. I am under the impression that two consecutive Questions to the same hon. Member are not permitted.
§ Mr. SpeakerWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to raise that at the end of Question Time?