§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent a further rise in rents; and if, in view of the increase of 60 per cent. in the cost-of-living index for rent and rates since 1956, he will seek to amend the Rent Act to end creeping decontrol.
§ Sir K. JosephThe best way of keeping rents at a reasonable level is to increase the number of houses as quickly as possible, and this the Government are doing to the full extent of the building industry's capacity. Abolition of creeping decontrol would encourage landlords to sell instead of reletting when they got vacant possession, and this would not be in the interests of tenants generally.