§ 56. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that many tenants are now faced with large rent increases and wishing to challenge such increases in the courts, find they cannot do so because of the high legal costs involved; and, in view of these facts, whether he will take immediate action additional to the present legal aid scheme to ensure that such people shall not be deprived of the right to the protection of the law.
§ Mr. MaclayLegal aid is available in civil actions in the Court of Session and the Sheriff Court, provided that the applicant's means are not above a certain level and that he has good grounds for taking or defending the action. I have 113W no reason to think that the scheme is inadequate, in relation to cases such as the hon. Member has in mind.
§ 57. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that private landlords are increasing the rents of houses in Prinlaws, near Leslie, Fife, by as much as from 500 to 800 per cent., that many of these houses are over 100 years old, and that many are occupied by old-age pensioners who are unable and unwilling to pay such increases; and what steps he now intends to take to prevent this.
§ Mr. MaclayAs has already been explained to the hon. Member. I have no standing to intervene in this matter. I can only repeat the suggestion that, if they have not already done so, the tenants concerned should take legal advice on the question whether the Rent Restrictions Acts apply to their tenancies.