HC Deb 16 May 1978 vol 950 cc118-9W
Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to introduce legislation to abolish the use by local authorities of distraint relating to rent arrears.

Mr. Armstrong

I have instituted a major research inquiry into rent arrears, their causes and methods of recovery. In the meantime, I hope that local authorities, in the exercise of their statutory responsibilities, will use distraint only as a last resort and with proper regard to the interests of the families concerned.

Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons of policy the law does not permit council tenants to apply for a stay of distress in rent arrears cases or to pay the amount of the arrears by instalments or lay down that tenants can only avoid a distress by paying all the current arrears of rent and the cost of distress.

Mr. Armstrong

In the case of local authority tenants no opportunity exists for alternative arrangements to be agreed in court because the leave of the court is not required before distress is levied. However, I should expect a local authority to have discussed with the tenant concerned the prospects for payment at a later stage or in instalments well before the question of distraint arose.