§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many controlled tenants there were in 1957 at the time of the Rent Act 1957; how many controlled tenants there were in 1965 at the time of the Rent Act 1965; and what is the annual rate of loss of controlled tenancies since 1965.
§ Mr. FreesonIt is estimated that there were 3.9 million controlled tenancies in England and Wales in mid-1957 and 1.9 million at the end of 1965. The best estimate at present, based in part on trends identified in the late 1960s, is that there are still about 375,000 controlled tenancies. Material from a departmental survey in process of being analysed suggests, however, that the current figure may be much lower.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many controlled tenancies have moved into the regulated system in each year since 1965 under the qualification certificate procedure.
§ Mr. FreesonThe procedure for converting a controlled tenancy into a regulated one by means of a qualification certificate was introduced in 1969, but figures for that year and for 1970 are unfortunately not available. The numbers converted in England and Wales by this procedure in each subsequent year were as follows:
NUMBER OF CONTROLLED TENANCIES CONVERTED TO REGULATED ONES BY QUALIFICATION CERTIFICATE (ENGLAND AND WALES) 1971 22,380 1972 53,680 1973* 22,910 1974* 6,990 1975* 4,840 1976* 4,140 * For these years the figures exclude cases for which "fair" rents were not subsequently registered.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many controlled tenancies were decontrolled 20W under the Housing Finance Act 1972 in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
§ Mr. FreesonIt is estimated that about 300,000 tenancies in England and Wales were so decontrolled in 1973, when the programme began, and about 150,000 in 1974. The programme was effectively ended during 1974.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many controlled tenancies have been lost through demolition and redevelopment in each year since 1965;
(2) how many controlled tenancies have been lost through the death of the tenant in each year since 1965.
§ Mr. FreesonI regret that separate estimates for losses due to demolition and redevelopment or through the death of the tenant are not available.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many existing controlled tenants are estimated to be of pensionable age.
§ Mr. FreesonAbout two-thirds to three-quarters of heads of households in controlled tenancies are estimated to be of pensionable age.