§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will take steps to secure that owner-occupiers shall, during war-time, be protected against increases in rates of mortgage interest and the calling-in of mortgages not less effectively than statutory tenants are protected against increases of rent and the recovery of possession by their landlords;
(2) whether he will make a statement of the Government's policy regarding the encouragement of the owner-occupation of small houses; and whether, in view of the relatively unfavourable legal position of owner-occupiers who have purchased their houses with money borrowed on mortgage, and repayable by periodical payments extending over more than 10 years from the date of the creation of the mortgage, he will reconsider the adequacy of recent emergency legislation?
§ Mr. ElliotThe Government have always welcomed the growth of owner-occupation, and special facilities are available in the statutes to this end. Emergency legislation is already in operation to protect mortgagors who are unable to meet their obligations by reason of circumstances directly or indirectly attributable to the war, and I am not aware of evidence that further protection is required.