§ 72 and 73. Mr. Roseasked the Minister of Power (1) whether he will take action, including legislation if necessary, to ensure that the miners made redundant by pit closures are protected from automatic rent increases consequent upon redundancy;
(2) whether, in the light of the Prices and Incomes policy, he will hold a full inquiry into the system of rents and agreements with local authorities operated by the National Coal Board in respect of National Coal Board estates, with particular reference to the increase in rents charged to redundant miners who are tenants in such estates.
§ Mr. FreesonThe fixing of rents on N.C.B. property is already governed by the relevant statutory controls and is within the framework of prices and incomes policy. An allowance for a rent increase may be payable under the Redundant Mineworkers' Payments Scheme and I am in touch with the National Coal Board about their rent policy in relation to this Scheme. Rent is also taken into account by the Department of Health and Social Security in fixing the amount of any Supplementary Benefit.