§ 141. Mr. Awberyasked the Attorney-General what action he intends to take to prevent increases in the charges made by ground landlords to tenants who desire to purchase the ground on which their home stands.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy hon. Friend's Question raises two different issues, namely, the control of ground rents, and the desirability of legislation to provide for the compulsory sale of ground leases.
Regarding the former issue, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the answer which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Watkins) on 15th November, 1945. I then said that the Committee which, under the chairmanship of Lord Ridley, recently examined the question of rent control generally made no recommendation for the control of ground rent, provided the ground rent was not of such an amount as to fall within the controls provided by the Rent Restrictions Acts. The Government recognise the fact that the value of property may have increased since the ground rents of leases falling in were fixed, and does not intend, in default of evidence of abuse, to impose restrictions other than those now in force. The second issue raised by my hon. Friend is bound up with the controversial question of leasehold enfranchisement. I have replied to several questions on this subject within the last few months, and I would refer my hon. Friend in particular to my reply to the hon. Members for Newport (Mr. Peter Freeman) and Newton (Sir R. Young) on 17th October last.