§ Mr. BARNESasked the Prime Minister if increased house rent is to be considered by the Committee which is considering the increased cost of living; if he is aware that rent is being increased on the occupiers of small property more than on the occupiers of large houses; if his attention has been called to a declaration of the Glasgow House Owners' Association at a meeting held on 14th January to the effect that this was the time for increasing the rents, obviously meaning that people were being familiarised with rising prices and that house-owners should take advantage of the fact; and whether the Government will consider the question of a prohibitory order or some other method of saving poor people from such an increased burden at this time when so many of them are otherwise harassed by domestic and other losses?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have seen a report in the Press of the meeting of the Glasgow House Owners' Association referred to. This report hardly appears to me to bear out the statements made in the question. If the hon. Member will send particulars of such increases to the President of the Board of Trade or, in the case of Scotland, to the Secretary for Scotland, my right hon. Friends will be glad to give the matter careful consideration. I am in agreement with the views of the hon. Member as to the undesirability of adding any further burden to the increased cost of living which prevails at the present time.