§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many cases have been disposed of by the rent tribunals which deal with applications for reduction of rents in the area which includes the County Borough of Oldham and the Urabn District of Chadderton since it commenced to function in April; and what is the average reduction of rent effected up to the most recent date for computation of figures;
(2) what is the estimated cost of administration involved in the setting up of the rent tribunal for the area including the County Borough of Oldham and the Urabn District of Chadderton up to the most recent date convenient for computation.
§ Mr. MacCollI assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the new machinery for assessment of fair rents under the Rent Act, 1965.
Registration areas under this Act are the areas of counties and county boroughs and I have no separate information for the urban district of Chadderton. In the county borough of Oldham up to 15th October 20 applications for registration of rent had been made to the rent officer, of which 16 had been determined. The 146W original rent was reduced in 15 cases and increased in 1. Seven cases had been referred to a rent assessment committee, of which 5 had been decided, the original rent being reduced in each case. Figures giving the average change in rent are not yet available for individual registration areas; but the overall average change in all cases decided up to 30th September by committees of the Manchester Rent Assessment Panel which covers both these areas was a reduction of 32.7 per cent. from an average rent of £117 per annum to one of £79.
The estimated cost of the rent officer service in the county borough of Oldham up to the end of September is £3,000. Figures to show the estimated cost of the Manchester Rent Assessment Panel apportionable to individual registration areas are not available.