§ 2.38 p.m.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will now arrange that meetings of the rent scrutiny boards under the provisions of the Housing Finance Act 1972 shall be held in public.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BARONESS YOUNG)My Lords, no. Such an arrangement would be inappropriate to the task of the boards.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that this matter affects millions of people in the country? Would she not agree to rent scrutiny boards sitting in public when they adjudicate on council housing rents under Section 56 of the Act? Do the Government consider that the local authorities should not sit in public when making provisional assessments under Section 527?
§ BARONESS YOUNGMy Lords, the terms of the Question are whether the meetings of the rent scrutiny boards should be held in public. I would point out that they do in fact publish a report, and in that report they give the reasons for their decisions and how they reach them.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, is that good enough? Does not the noble Baroness realise that it is necessary to be present and to listen to the proceedings so as to be able to make a reasonable decision on the results—as is the case before persons are given an opinion in respect to any proceedings of a judicial court? Does she not think that the people concerned should have the opportunity of knowing what was said and should not have to rely entirely on the final decision which is made by the boards and which subsequently cannot be argued against?
§ BARONESS YOUNGMy Lords, council tenants have the opportunity to make representations to the local authorities who in turn make their representations to the rent scrutiny boards.
§ LORD GARNSWORTHYMy Lords, the noble Baroness does not seem to take the point that my noble friend is trying to make, which is that the boards should meet and consider in public the representations made to them. May I ask the noble Baroness whether she appreciates that there is a world of difference between issuing reports and holding meetings in public?
§ BARONESS YOUNGMy Lords, I think it is true to say that under the Housing Finance Act council tenants have more opportunities for making their points of view known about rents than they formerly had. They do so through representations to the local authorities, as I have said; and the rent scrutiny boards publish their decisions and the reasons which led to those decisions.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, would the noble Baroness say—and I hope that she will forgive me for asking a further supplementary question—whether it is in accordance with the Franks Report on Tribunals that meetings of these boards should be held in camera to decide on provisional assessments which have been published?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, before my noble friend answers, may I ask whether it is in order to read supplementary questions?
§ BARONESS YOUNGMy Lords, in answer to Lord Janner's supplementary question, my understanding is it is in order.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, may I wish the noble Baroness, "Many happy returns of the day ", even though it is obviously only a year or two since she got the key of the door.