§ Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will
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DWELLINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT BEGINNING OF EACH YEAR: 1946–1966 GREAT BRITAIN Public Sector Private Sector Public and Private Sector Year Local Authorities Others Totals Totals 1946 … … … 19,978 — 19,978 6,716 26,694 1947 … … … 158,483 1,785 160,268 43,437 203,705 1948 … … … 217,006 4,346 221,352 34,355 255,707 1949 … … … 166,497 5,502 171,999 19,129 191,128 1950 … … … 164,437 6,655 171,092 24,328 195,420 1951 … … … 174,472 10,169 184,641 16,767 201,408 1952 … … … 190,701 13,686 204,387 21,296 225,683 1953 … … … 227,034 13,921 240,955 39,303 280,258 1954 … … … 230,012 20,022 250,034 59,608 309,642 1955 … … … 202,311 13,813 216,124 75,753 291,877 1956 … … … 186,618 10,866 197,484 89,818 287,302 1957 … … … 170,548 8,749 179,297 86,073 265,370 1958 … … … 150,108 4,972 155,080 85,243 240,323 1959 … … … 127,331 4,395 131,726 93,950 225,676 1960 … … … 148,663 5,313 153,976 112,656 266,632 1961 … … … 143,247 7,883 151,130 126,799 277,929 1962 … … … 147,484 7,981 155,465 138,699 294,164 1963 … … … 155,008 7,523 162,531 149,875 312,406 1964 … … … 195,232 11,876 207,108 174,415 381,523 1965 … … … 214,145 16,003 230,148 203,774 433,922 1966 … … … 226,374 16,715 243,089 201,043 444,132 introduce legislation to increase legal penalties against private landlords who harass intimidate their tenants.
§ Mr. MacCollThe maximum penalties under the Rent Act, 1965 for the offences of unlawful eviction and harassment are fines of £100 for a first offence and £500 thereafter, or six months imprisonment, or both. My right hon. Friend has no evidence to suggest that these penalties need to be increased. He looks to local authorities thoroughly to investigate all complaints and to institute any necessary action against offenders; and tenants should have no hesitation in seeking the protection which the law provides.