§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation as part of his deregulative initiatives to make illegal anti-competitive abuses in commercial leases which allow only upward review of rents.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe measure described does not appear to be deregulatory and does not fall within the scope of the deregulation initiative. The Department of the Environment has, however, issued a consultation paper on certain aspects of commercial property leasing arrangements, including upward-only rent reviews. An announcement of the outcome of that exercise will be made in due course.