§ Mr. TAYLORasked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the proprietors of houses erected after April, 1919, and whose rents are fixed at a high rate owing to the increased cost of building, are asking the tenants to pay the increase of rent allowed under The Rent Restriction Act, 1920, and to sign an agreement to come voluntarily under that Act, or leave their house at Whitsuntide; and will he take steps to protect the tenants against the proprietors' demand?
§ Mr. MUNROI am not aware of any cases of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend. The Increase of Rent, etc. Act, 1920, does not apply to houses erected after, or in course of erection on, the 2nd April, 1919. Proprietors of such houses—subject to the conditions of let in each case—are not debarred from demanding an increased rent, even although the rent they have already secured is fair or economic. I have no power to take action in such cases as suggested by my hon. Friend.