§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many references have been made to the Rent Tribunal by London boroughs, by borough and by year; and what proportion were successful since the 1946 Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, under section 2(1) of that Act.
§ Mr. ChannonI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many references have been made to Rent Tribunals altogether by year, since 1946.
§ Mr. ChannonThe total number of references made to rent tribunals each year since 1946 are:
1947 … … … 10,262 1948 … … … 13,750 1949 … … … 17,139 1950 … … … 16,908 1951 … … … 19,647 1952 … … … 13,984 1953 … … … 13,172 1954 … … … 11,917 1955 … … … 12,357 1956 … … … 11,542 1957 … … … 7,612 1958 … … … 6,466 1959 … … … 6,188 1960 … … … 6,773 1961 … … … 8,181 1962 … … … 7,820 1963 … … … 7,729 1964 … … … 7,552 1965 … … … 9,074 1966 … … … 18,034 1967 … … … 21,368 1968 … … … 24,940 1969 … … … 18,522 The figures for the years from 1949 to 1956 include references under Section 1 287W of the Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act, 1949, for the determination of rents for unfurnished lettings.
§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of uncertainties which exist on the matter, if he will send a circular to all local authorities reminding them of their powers under section 72(i) of the Rent Act 1968.
§ Mr. ChannonSection 72(1) of the Rent Act 1968 empowers the local authority as well as the lessor and the lessee to refer to the local rent tribunal a contract subject to Part VI of the Act—broadly, a furnished letting. I have no reason to think local authorities are unaware that they have this power, but if the hon. Member has evidence suggesting this perhaps he would be good enough to let me have it.