§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that the Government's counter-inflation measures in regard to the pegging of office rentals are being flouted on a large scale in London and elsewhere by the process of demanding key money; and what action he proposes to take to remedy the situation.
§ Mr. ChannonNo. The Counter-Inflation (Business Rents) Order 1972,118W which provides for a standstill on the rents of business tenancies, requires any premium paid to a landlord to be taken into account in calculating the rent payable. Where a court finds a landlord guilty of accepting rent in excess of the permitted amount it can impose a substantial fine and order restitution to be made. If my hon. Friend knows of cases of this kind I shall be glad to have particulars of them.