§ 95. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to state the Government plans for Scottish housing.
§ Mr. J. StuartI would refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my replies of 27th November to the hon. Members for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) and for Woodside (Mr. W. G. Bennett).
§ 99. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that a tenant who has obtained from the sanitary authority a certificate that the house he occupies is not in a reasonable state of repair is sufficiently protected against any claim for the payment of rent increase 40W permitted under the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, during the currency of the certificate; if he is aware that certain property agents in Glasgow are seeking to violate the provisions of the Act in this respect and that no penalty is provided therefor in the Act; and if he will introduce legislation so to provide a deterrent penalty.
§ Mr. J. StuartIf a tenant obtains a certificate from the local authority that the house is not in a reasonable state of repair and serves a copy of it on the landlord he can withhold the 40 per cent. increase in rent permitted under the 1920 Act. I am not aware that any difficulty has arisen in Glasgow in operating this procedure but if the hon. Member has any information which he cares to send me I shall be glad to consider it.
The position in regard to sanitary certificates will be examined when a general review of the Rent Acts is undertaken, but I can hold out no hope of early legislation.