HC Deb 11 June 1980 vol 986 cc733-4
Mr. Maxton

I beg to move amendment No. 248, in page 36, line 3, after ' functions ', insert— 'in respect of the approval or determination of rents shall be transferred to the rent officers provided for in section 37 of that Act and in all other respects'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this it will be convenient to take amendment No. 173, in page 36, line 4, at end insert— 'except in the area of fair rent determination which shall be transferred to the rent officer'.

Mr. Maxton

An amendment on this matter was tabled in Committee. It was rather different from this amendment and was faulty. The Minister agreed to consider the matter, and appeared to be interested in our proposal. He could not give a commitment, but he agreed to consider the matter on Report. No amendments have been tabled by him. He wrote to my right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) about the matter, and I have seen that letter. However, I still feel that this amendment is the right way to deal with the matter, and it should at least be put on record. It would be better to transfer the determination of rents from the rent tribunals to rent officers rather than to rent assessment committees.

Mr. Rifkind

The amendment is concerned with the implications of the abolition of rent tribunals. The hon. Gentleman suggests that those matters should be considered by rent officers. The Government's view remains as indicated in Committee, primarily for the reason that there are only about 50 cases of that sort to be dealt with in any one year. Rent assessment committees deal both with the question of rent and with the question of security of tenure. It would be confusing for the tenant if he had to go to the rent assessment committee for the security aspect but to the rent officer for the rent aspect. It is much more sensible with such a small number to have this dealt with by the rent assessment committee.

I hope that on reflection the hon. Gentleman will accept that this is a more logical way to deal with the matter.

Mr. Maxton

I would not necessarily accept the Minister's logic as being any better than mine, but I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

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