§ 81. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the Government's new policy in regard to the harsh employment by certain landlords of their right to give notice to quit under the Rent Act, 1957, what action he will take to safeguard the position of Mrs. McNamee, of 165, Islington, Liverpool 3, who has been given notice to quit after living 57 of her 70 years in the house, and details of whose case have been sent to him.
§ Mr. H. BrookeThe correspondence sent me by the hon. Member shows that the landlords wish to obtain possession in order to convert the premises to industrial or business purposes. Such a change of use would require the permission of the planning authority, which, I understand, has not yet been sought. In Circular 94/52 planning authorities were reminded of the importance of preventing the loss of housing accommodation and were advised that planning permission could be refused for the conversion of housing accommodation to another use even when that use is fully in accord with the plan.
I am sure that Liverpool Corporation as planning authority will bear this in mind in dealing with any application for change of use in the present case; and I am sending to them a copy of the hon. Member's Question and of this reply. Any landlord who has given or is thinking of giving notice to quit with change of use in mind would be well advised to consider again the offer of a new tenancy to the sitting tenant.
§ 88 and 89. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) now that he has had experience of the use being made of the power given to landlords by the Rent Act and which has called for a rebuke from him, if he will give a clearer explanation of what he has in mind if they ignore his appeal condemning the abuse of the Act;
121W(2) if he is aware of the widespread concern over the threatened evictions of tenants in October next; and if he will closely examine the serious position it has brought about, and make a statement of the Government's policy in this regard in the light of recent developments.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action has now been taken by landlords in response to the new Government policy regarding the reletting of decontrolled premises; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI would refer the hon. Members to my statement in the debate yesterday.
§ 90. Mr. Shurmerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what financial assistance he proposes to give to local authorities who decide to acquire by purchase houses where tenants are faced with eviction under the Rent Act, 1957.
§ 92. Mr. Shortasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what additional financial assistance he is prepared to give to the Corporation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to rehouse families who are to be evicted in October, 1958, under the Rent Act, 1957.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI do not think that local authorities need additional financial assistance for this purpose.