§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Attorney-General what are the qualifications required for an applicant for appointment to a rent assessment committee; whether a financial interest in residential property is a disqualification; whether appointed persons declare any vested interests; and whether any such declarations are available for public examination.
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§ Mr. StanleyI have been asked to reply.
Members 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 Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State, for qualities of judgment, common sense and an ability to take an unbiased view. Lawyers and valuers in addition contribute their professional expertise.
A financial interest in residential property is not a disqualification but 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 if any firm or business of which they are a member has such an interest.
When interviewing possible new panel members, presidents enquire whether the candidate is active in any organisation representing landlords or tenants, or is involved in any other activity—including significant activity as a landlord—which might make or appear to make his judgment less than impartial but there is no formal register of outside interests of panel members available for public examination.