§ Sir S. ROBERTSasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the growing practice of the sale at enhanced prices of small houses to which the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act, 1915, applies, and thereby indirectly getting round the provisions of the Act as to the restrictions placed on an increase of rent; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThe matter has been receiving the attention of the Government, and a Bill to amend the Act was introduced in another place on Tuesday.
§ Mr. ADAMSONasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware of the practice, for the purpose of evading the present law, of purchasing houses, even individual houses in tenement buildings, in order that the tenants may be evicted and the new owner take possession; whether he is aware of the case of the wife of a soldier, whose house at 15, Hutcheson Square, Glasgow, has been purchased; that the wife with three children has been given notice to leave the house and cannot find accommodation elsewhere; and whether any action will be taken, either administratively or legislatively, to prevent the eviction of tenants unless and until other accommodation is found?
§ Mr. MUNROI am aware both of the general question and of the particular 505W case to which my hon. Friend refers. My Noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has introduced a Bill in another place the purpose of which is to amend the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restriction) Act, 1915, by limiting the powers of purchases of houses covered by the Act to eject the sitting tenants. It is hoped that this Bill when passed into law will remove the main grounds of grievance which presently exist.