Welsh Development Agency Properties (Hansard, 24 May 1990)

§ Mr. Barry Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in theOfficial Report (a) the location of Welsh Development Agency properties sold to the private sector, for the last available financial year, where a sitting tenant existed, (b) the name of the sitting tenant in each case and (c) the rent paid before and after the property sale.

§ Mr. David Hunt
The information requested in(a) and (b) above is as follows:
Properties sold as Investments 1989–90
Hendy industrial estate, Hendy, Dyfed

Unit 3—Sooner Snacks Ltd.

Unit 4—Wave Computer Supplies

Unit 5—St. Teilo Training Services

Unit 6—Dyfed Building Supplies

Unit 7—Pavilion Engineering Company Ltd.

Unit 8—Finning Limited

Unit 9—Automotive and Industrial Chemicals Ltd.
Maesgwynne industrial estate, Merthyr Tydfil
Unit 2—Rayles Rewinds
Court Road industrial estate, Cwmbran
Unit 32—Data Stripe Ltd.

Unit 33—Data Stripe Ltd.

Unit 45—Photographic Images Ltd.

Unit 46—Autobind Ltd.
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Unit 47—Easyscene Ltd.
Springvale industrial estate, Cwmbran
Unit 50—R. J. B. Glass and Double Glazing Centre

Unit 51—R. J. B. Glass and Double Glazing Centre

Unit 52—W. E. D. Automatics Ltd.

Unit 53—Sacol Hydraulics Ltd.
The above information excludes sales to sitting tenants, which have comprised the majority of WDA property disposals to date.
Details of rents paid by individual WDA tenants is commercially confidential information. In general however, it is agency policy to obtain the best consideration available under market circumstances.

§ Mr. Barry Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what rights exist for a review of rent increases levied on sitting tenants in Welsh Development Agency properties sold into the private sector.

§ Mr. David Hunt
Both public and private sector organisations operate within the general framework of the Landlord and Tenants Act 1954 and tenants' rights conferred by this legislation would apply. In essence the Act provides that existing occupational leases and tenants' contractual rights will remain unaffected by a change of ownership, which means that rents will not be reviewed purely as a result of a sale. Tenants also have statutory protection in respect of security of tenure when the lease is due for renewal. There is a further provision for recourse to arbitration if settlement of rent cannot be achieved between landlord and tenant.