§ 50. Mr. William Wellsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in what proportion of cases before rent assessment committees the landlord has available a surveyor as an expert witness.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe landlord has had available a surveyor as expert witness in 17 per cent. of cases decided by rent assessment committees and has been represented by someone with similar qualifications or experience in over 37 per cent. more.
§ 51. Mr. William Wellsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in what proportion of cases before rent assessment committees the landlord is represented by solicitors and counsel.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe landlord has been represented by a solicitor in 18.5 per cent. and by counsel in 8.5 per cent. of cases decided by rent assessment committees.
§ 52. Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that rent assessment committees are not disregarding the scarcity factor in assessing rents, that in two cases before the Yorkshire Committee: n Hull on 21st June the chairman announced that the committee had taken into account the scarcity of such property; if he will now introduce 176W amending legislation to stop this practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CrossmanI am satisfied that in the two cases mentioned by my hon.. Friend the committee took into account scarcity value in order to eliminate it from the fair rent, as they are required to do by the Rent Act, 1965.