§ Mr. ClellandTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the findings of his Department's consultation exercise on fair rents; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI announced on 15 July last year that following careful consideration of the representations received in response to our consultation paper on fair rents, we did not consider it would be desirable to make any changes to the existing legislation. To provide further legislative controls over rents would hinder efforts to promote the revival of the private rented sector.
We are keen, however, to encourage greater exchange of information and views between rent officers and rent assessment panels. The educational trust of the Institute of Rent Officers has established a working party, made up of rent officers and rent assessment panel members, to look into how this might be achieved. The group aims to publish its report in the spring.