HC Deb 25 October 1973 vol 861 cc642-5W
Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of remuneration and expenses paid to the chairman and members, respectively, of the rent scrutiny board in Bristol.

Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of remuneration and expenses are paid to the chairman and members, respectively, of rent scrutiny boards in England and Wales.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the remuneration of the chairmen and members of the rent scrutiny board in the city and county of Kingston upon Hull.

Mr. Concannon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of remuneration and expenses paid to members of the rent scrutiny boards in Nottinghamshire.

Mr. Channon

The daily fee payable throughout the country to members of rent assessment panels, from whom rent scrutiny board members are drawn, is £27 for chairmen, £25 for lawyer and valuer members and £15 for lay members. Half-day fees are payable as appropriate. Travelling expenses and subsistence allowances are paid at appropriate Civil Service salary scale rates.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the rent scrutiny board in Bristol, also their addresses, whether they are legal, professional or lay members and their qualifications for undertaking this work.

Mr. Channon

It is for the president of the area rent assessment panel to nominate, from his panel, members of rent scrutiny boards as and when required. A list of all rent assessment panel members is in the Library, giving their qualifications. I am inquiring from the panel president what nominations he has made for Bristol, and I will write to the hon. Member. I do not think it right to publish private addresses of members.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis the members of the rent scrutiny board in Bristol were selected for appointment.

Mr. Channon

It is for the president of the area rent assessment panel to nominate, from his panel, members of rent scrutiny boards as and when required. Two members of each board must be chosen from panel members appointed by the Secretary of State under the provisions of Section 51(1) of the Housing Finance Act. In addition to the qualities of judgment and common sense which are sought for all panel members, members appointed by the Secretary of State will usually have a good knowledge of their locality and an interest in local affairs.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the chairman of the rent scrutiny board in Bristol; and whether he was the first person to be offered this appointment.

Mr. Channon

It rests with the president of a rent assessment panel to nominate rent scrutiny boards. The President of the Bristol Rent Assessment Panel decided at the outset to chair the Bristol Rent Scrutiny Board himself.

Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the members of rent scrutiny boards in Wiltshire showing what qualifications they hold.

Mr. Channon

It is for the president of the area rent assessment panel to nominate, from his panel, members of rent scrutiny boards as and when re quired. A list of all rent assessment panel members is in the Library. I am inquiring from the panel president what nominations he has made for Wiltshire, and I will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council house tenants serve on rent scrutiny boards in Wiltshire.

Mr. Channon

This information is not available.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the professionally qualified members or their firms of the rent scrutiny boards serving Kingston upon Hull, city and county, manage privately-rented accommodation in the city and county of Kingston upon Hull, or manage or collect rents for or advertise the letting of privately-rented houses, flats or other units of human accommodation in the area.

Mr. Channon

This detailed information about rent assessment panel members is not available, but all panel members are required to declare any conflicts of interest which arise in the course of their panel work. I understand from the President of the Yorkshire Rent Assessment Panel that he has not yet appointed the rent scrutiny board to deal with the submission made by Kingston upon Hull county borough.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the legal, professional and lay members of the rent scrutiny boards serving the city and county of Kingston upon Hull, including all their professional qualifications, and indicating which members live in privately-rented, free or rent-controlled, council or owner-occupied residences.

Mr. Channon

It is for the president of the rent assessment panel to nominate from the panel's members rent scrutiny boards as and when required. A list of all members of rent assessment panels is in the Library, giving their qualifications. I understand from the panel president, however, that he has not yet nominated a board covering Kingston upon Hull.

Mr. Concannon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the members of the rent scrutiny boards in Nottinghamshire, giving their qualifications and showing whether they live in a private rented, council or owner-occupied residence.

Mr. Channon

It is for the president of the rent assessment panel to nominate from the panel's members rent scrutiny boards as and when required. A list of all members of rent assessment panels is in the Library, giving their qualifications. I am inquiring from the panel president what nominations he has made for Nottinghamshire. Information about the tenure of members' home accommodation is not available, nor do I think it right to ask for or to publish information of this kind about members of the boards.