§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will ascertain how many members of rent assessment committees are landlords or agents of landlords and how many are tenants.
§ Sir George YoungThis information is not available, and we have no plans to collect it.
An interest of any kind in residential property is not itself a disqualification in the selection of potential members for appointment to the rent assessment panels, from which rent assessment committees are drawn. Members are, however, required not to adjudicate in circumstances where their impartiality could be questioned —for example if they have any personal, professional or pecuniary interest in a case, or if any firm or business with which they are associated has such an interest.
When interviewing candidates for membership the panel presidents inquire whether they are active in any organisation representing landlords or tenants, or involved in any activity which might make, or appear to make, their judgment less than wholly impartial. However, no record of serving members' current interests is maintained.