§ Lord HALEasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, and if so on whose instructions, circular letters have been sent to official rent officers who act in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity, advising them of recent decisions on increases of rent and giving "guidance" to the officers.
§ Lord BELLWINNotes for Rent Officers are sent out to rent officers by the Department of the Environment. Their status is informal. They are intended to assist the efficient functioning of the service. Rent officers are not obliged to take account of them or to use them. Some notes consist of statistical information on registered rents and on movement in other relevant costs and prices. No advice is given about how to fix rents or what use should be made of the information contained in the notes. The notes are no different from those issued by the previous Government.