§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average percentage increase which has taken place in the rents of public houses since the ending of the freeze on business rents.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate discussions with the representatives of the brewers and the public house tenants with the aim of establishing guidelines for determination of rents.
§ Mr. OakesGuidelines for the determination of rents of tenanted public houses are established in the Code of Practice on Tenants' Security which, I understand, was adopted two years ago by both sides of the licensed trade. The code provides that if, after negotiation, the parties cannot reach agreement, a fair rent should be determined by some independent means of arbitration. The fair rent is to be the rent which could reasonably be expected in the open market, having regard to the terms of the tenancy agreement proposed.