RENT TRIBUNALS (Hansard, 18 October 1971)

§ 32. Mr. Clinton Davis
asked the Attorney-General what progress has been made to introduce a form of legal aid scheme to enable expert witnesses to be called on behalf of tenants before rent tribunals.

§ The Attorney-General
The Committee on the Rent Acts was satisfied that the tenants do not suffer from the lack of professional representation. There are therefore no present plans for introducing a form of legal aid for rent tribunals but, as I told the hon. Member on 24th May, this question will be reconsidered in the light of research now taking place.—[Vol. 818, c. 24–25.]

§ Mr. Clinton Davis
Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman not aware, from his personal experience, that tenants who can call expert witnesses to represent them before such tribunals are invariably placed in a much happier and better position than those who cannot? Is he not aware that there is a great lack of balance between the representation afforded to landlords and that afforded to tenants? Having regard to the extension of the fair rents scheme, should not this matter be considered very urgently?

§ The Attorney-General
The Committee on the Rent Acts, which reported in March, 1971, was not in favour of legal aid. The Child Poverty Action Group has changed its mind and has now decided that in social security tribunals legal aid is not appropriate. Research 368 is being undertaken at two universities by the Nuffield Foundation. I suggest that we should await the results of that research.

§ Sir Elwyn Jones
But is there not a general view that what is primarily needed is the availability of expert evidence which the tenant can call upon? Is the Attorney-General aware that the voluntary system introduced by the Institute of Chartered Surveyors is wholly inadequate, and that it is here that an urgent need for action arises?

§ The Attorney-General
I am not satisfied that there is a need for that form of expert assistance. As I said, the whole matter is being made the subject of thorough research; it is best to wait to see what these different bodies recommend.