§ 3.3 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT BUCKMASTERMy 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 they are prepared to correct the statement made in this House on May 10, 1950, to the effect that where houses were restricted before September, 1949, in some cases there has been an allowance of up to 40 per cent., and 568 in some cases 48 per cent. for the purpose of repairs.]
§ LORD KERSHAWMy Lords, I regret that in my reply to the noble Lord, Lord Saltoun, on May 10 I inadvertently referred to the year 1949 instead of to 1939. I am grateful to the noble Viscount for calling my attention to the matter. The noble Viscount will appreciate that the houses which were controlled before September, 1939, were those that had been continuously controlled since 1920 on the basis of rents in force in and before 1914, or in certain cases 1920, or, having been de-controlled, again became controlled. In the case of such houses, the Rent Restrictions Act. 1920, authorised increases of 15 per cent. of the net rent and a further 25 per cent. where the landlord was wholly responsible for repairs. Taken together, these two increases were known as the 40 per cent. increase. That Act also authorised two further rent increases—namely, the amount of any increase in the rates payable by the landlord, and 8 per cent. of the capital cost of any improvements or structural alterations. These two latter increases can also be made in the rents of houses brought under control at the outbreak of war in September, 1939, by the Rent Restrictions Act of that year, but it is the case that no increase has been authorised for such houses corresponding to the 40 per cent. increase. As I said in my previous reply to the noble Viscount, this is a matter engaging the attention of the Government, but there is no prospect of early legislation.
§ VISCOUNT BUCKMASTERMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his full and comprehensive answer.