§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the result of his period of consultation on the landlord and tenant rights and duties paper concerning reform of the law of privity of contract; if he is now in a position to support an amended Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Bill containing the agreement made between the British Retail Consortium and the British Property Federation; and if he will make a statement. [20212]
Mr. John M. TaylorFollowing a substantial response to the consultation in favour of the package, the Government will support such a Bill, provided that the principal change concerning controls over assignment of leases will not apply to purely residential tenancies or to farm business tenancies.