HL Deb 26 July 1949 vol 164 cc485-6

2.42 p.m.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the article by the chairman of the East London Rent Tribunal in the People of July 17 is not couched in such language as to indicate that a case coming before his tribunal must inevitably be prejudged.]

THE PAYMASTER - GENERAL (LORD MACDONALD OF GWAENYSGOR)

My Lords, it does not appear to my right honourable friend the Minister of Health necessarily to follow from this article that cases coming before this tribunal will be denied a fair hearing, but he deprecates injudicious statements of this kind.

VISCOUNT BUCKMASTER

My Lords, arising out of the Question asked by my noble friend, I take it that the noble Lord opposite has read the article in question, in which there is a statement to the effect that: "Now is your chance to catch your shark landlord." Does he not think it would be better in the interests, not of one Party or of one side, but of the community as a whole, that a chairman of less obvious prejudice and bias should be appointed to take charge of the affairs of this tribunal?

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, before the noble Lord, Lord Macdonald, replies, may I ask him an additional supplementary question? If he were a landlord who had to appear before this particular tribunal, does he think, having read this article, that there is the slightest chance that his case would receive an unbiased hearing? Is that in this day and age a desirable state of affairs?

LORD MACDONALD OF GWAENYSGOR

My Lords, I do not think I need to add anything to my original reply except to say that I read the article and agree with the Minister. As to the future of this individual, I prefer to say no more.

VISCOUNT BUCKMASTER

I take it, at any rate, that the Minister has conveyed to the writer the noble Lord's views on his article.

LORD MACDONALD OF GWAENYSGOR

I prefer not to add to my reply.