§ Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, (1) if he will inquire into the decision of the National Coal Board substantially to increase rents in the county of Midlothian under the powers vested in him by Parliament;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to improve the protection of tenants of National Coal Board houses.
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§ Mr. RossI know of no power under which I can inquire into decisions of the National Coal Board about rents.
Tenants of National Coal Board houses have the same protection under the Rent Acts as tenants of privately-owned houses. They cannot be evicted without a decree of removal from the Sheriff. Rents of controlled tenancies can be increased only by certain statutory amounts in respect of repairs or improvements. Rents of regulated tenancies can be increased only insofar as authorised through the fair rents machinery of the Rent Act, 1965.