Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the increases of rent in the case of small houses in Glasgow which were before the War let at a rental of over £30 a year, the increase in some cases being over 10 per cent.; whether he has considered the fact that owing to the fact that the statutory prohibition to increase rents is limited to houses of a rental of not more than £30 a year, the houses where rentals are being increased have now to bear an unfair proportion of the rates; and whether he will consider the desirability of taking steps to prohibit the increase of the rent or the mortgage interest on any dwelling-house during the War?
§ Mr. MUNROI have received some complaints as to increases of rents in the case of houses of over £30 rental, beyond which limit the Increase of Rents and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act, 1915, does not apply in Scotland. The result as regards, rating referred to by my hon. Friend must necessarily follow on any 1747W limitation in the operation of the Act to a specific rental, but I would remind him that the limit in question was fixed by Parliament after long discussion and full consideration of all the circumstances. I fear, therefore, that I cannot promise the amending legislation which would be necessary if effect were to be given to his suggestion.