§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that under the Distress for Rent Act, 1737, where a tenant gives notice to quit but fails to quit in accordance with such notice the landlord is entitled to charge double rent, and that the Court of Appeal has decided that such double rent is not an increase of rent within the terms of the Increase of Rent Act, 1915; and whether he will give facilities for the early passage of an amending Bill to meet the situation so created?
§ Sir G. HEWARTI have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this question. The facts are as stated in the question. It does not appear to me that legislation upon the matter is urgently required. The penalty rent is payable only where the notice to quit has been given by the tenant, and the tenant thereafter fails to give up possession in pursuance of his own notice. In these circumstances, what is described in the question as "the situation so created" is, in fact, created by the tenant himself.