§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average percentage increase in rents being demanded by the New Towns Commission for commercial properties in Crawley in the present round of rent reviews; and what sum, in monetary terms, is the highest asked.
§ Sir George YoungRent levels for the properties it owns are a matter for the Commission itself to decide, subject to the usual arbitration provision, and in the light of its statutory duty to maintain and enhance the value of the land held by it and the return obrained by it from the land. I understand, however, that some rents for commercial properties not owned by the commission in Crawley town centre were determined at arbitration in December 1982 at levels averaging 400 per cent. of the 1977 figures.