§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend the relevant regulations in order to allow rent assessment panels to take evidence on oath in accordance with section 16 of the Evidence Act 1851.
§ Mr. StanleyI shall consider this further and write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to allow tenants with non-variable service charges for two years to take advantage of the provisions of schedule 19 to the Housing Act 1980; and if he will seek to repeal paragraph 15 of schedule 19 to that Act.
§ Mr. StanleyI cannot add to the answer given to my hon. Friend by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 10 November last year.—[Vol. 12, c. 54.]
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend to rent officers the power of rent assessment committees to issue a form 14 letter under paragraph 7, schedule 11, to the Rent Act 1977.
§ Mr. StanleyRent officers already have the power to require the provision of information under paragraph 1 of schedule 11 to the Rent Act 1977.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend the relevant regulations to require the attendance of landlords or their representatives in person at rent officer and rent assessment committee hearings when an application is made for a change of rent in accordance with the provisions of the Rent Act 1977.
§ Mr. StanleyI have no plans to do so. The personal attendance of landlords or their representatives is not necessary to enable rent officers and rent assessment committees to discharge their statutory functions.