§ 48. Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that of the rents determined by rent officers in the constituency of the hon. Member for Wandsworth, Putney, the majority have been increased or fixed 38W at the existing rent; and to what extent this is in accordance with Her Majesty's Government's policy in this matter.
§ Mr. MacCollUp to 4th March, 1967, rent officers in the London Borough of Wandsworth had determined 506 applications for registration of rent. The previous rent was reduced in 137 cases, unchanged in 153 and increased in 216. I understand that in most of the increases the previous rent was fixed many years ago and the new rent is lower than it would have been in an open market. The Government's policy, in the Rent Act, 1965, was to establish fair rents which eliminate the effects of scarcity. I have no reason to believe that these decisions are inconsistent with it.