§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that the practice known as "gazumping" is again prevalent in the London housing market and is spreading to the provinces; and whether in order to avoid the abuses of 1971 to 1972, he will introduce protective legislation despite the Law Commission Report No. 65.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Law Commission report advised that there was no legislative solution which could both prevent gazumping and maintain the protection to purchasers and vendors which present procedures afford. Gazumping occurs when prices are rising too fast: the best remedy is the maintenance of a stable housing market.