§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the status of the document "Notes for Rent Officers", and whether he will consider making them more widely available.
§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the instructions and guidance issued to rent officers when fixing the fair rents payable by private tenants.
§ Mr. StanleyHaving considered representations from both tenants' and landlords' organisations, and having consulted the Institute of Rent Officers and Presidents of Rent Assessment Panels, I have concluded that the Department's statistical "Notes for Rent Officers" should be made publicly available. Statistical "Notes for Rent Officers" have been issued by the Department since 1973. The present Government's view of the status of "Notes for Rent Officers" is exactly the same as that of our predecessors as set out by the then Under-Secretary of State on 6 November 1978. That is that the status of "Notes for Rent Officers" 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 movements 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. Copies of all statistical rent officer notes issued in 1982 have been placed in the Library and are also now available on request from the Department.