§ Q8. Mr. Abseasked the Prime Minister if he will now make an announcement concerning legislation to reform the leasehold system.
§ The Prime MinisterYes. As the House knows, pressure of Parliamentary time and the need to give priority to urgent social legislation such as the Rent Bill has so far prevented us from bringing forward legislation about the leasehold system. I can assure the House, however, that a great deal of preparatory work has been done and that it is the firm intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce legislation in the near future. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister of Land and Natural Resources to take over responsibility for the preparation and introduction of this legislation.