§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the names and occupations of present members of rent assessment committees.
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§ Mr. FreesonRent assessment committees are drawn from rent assessment panels of which there are currently some 700 members. A list giving their names and occupations is placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, when appointing members of rent assessment committees, what account is taken of any interest that members may have in property, as owners, estate agents or surveyors.
§ Mr. FreesonMembers of rent assessment panels from which rent assessment committees are drawn consist of professionally qualified lawyers and valuers and of lay persons. Members are chosen by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Lord Chancellor for qualities of judgment, common sense and an ability to take an unbiased view. Lawyers and valuers in addition contribute their professional expertise.
Members are required not to adjudicate in circumstances which might give rise to doubt regarding their impartiality, that is if they have any personal, professional or pecuniary interest in a case or any firm or business of which they are a member has such an interest.