§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Sectary of State for the Environment since the 1978 rent charges regulation came into force on 1st February, how many inquiries the Department has received about apportioning rent charges, and redeeming rent charges; how many apportionments and redemptions have been completed; and whether he is satisfied that his staff in local offices, and officials of local councils and citizens'
513Wadvice bureaux, have sufficient information on the new Act upon which to advise people.
§ Mr. MarksSince the Rentcharges Regulations 1978 came into operation on 1st February, the Department has received about 900 written inquiries about apportioning and redeeming rent-charges. 208 applications have been received, 173 of these since mid-February. Statutory periods have to be observed for the procedures laid down and no apportionments or redemptions have yet been completed. Our leaflets say that if people have difficulty in filling up the application forms, the local citizens' advice bureaux or the local rent officer will help them. We are keeping in touch with appropriate local rent officers and citizens' advice bureaux to enable them to help people to complete applications and to give general advice about the new procedures. More detailed problems should be referred to the Department's headquarters, which deals with the statutory procedures.