§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage commercial rents and agricultural rents, respectively, have risen since May 1968.
§ Mr. John SilkinStatistics of agricultural rents are collected annually as at mid October. The average rent in England and Wales increased by 33 per cent. between October 1968 and October 1973. There are no comparable figures for commercial rents.
§ Mr. Awdryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is intended that rents of controlled rented property shall be frozen under the control of inflation measures in cases where the rent has been registered after 8th March 1974, taking into account improvements carried out before that date.
§ Mr. FreesonNo. Article 4(3) of the Counter-Inflation (Private Sector Residential Rents) (England and Wales) Order 1974 provides that
nothing in the foregoing provisions of this article shall prevent the rent recoverable in respect of the standstill period under a tenancy of a dwelling-house to which this order applies being increased to take account of any increase in rates or of the cost of any improvements to that dwelling-house and the counter-inflation limit shall be increased accordingly".Interpretation of the order in the case of any tenancy to which it applies is a matter for the courts.