§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to speed up the process of rent reviews. [48806]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 6 July 1998]: I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to commercial rents. Landlords and tenants agree procedures for rent reviews when negotiating leases. The efficiency of these arrangements is a matter for the parties concerned and their professional advisers. We have no plans to introduce statutory controls, but we are discussing with the professional bodies proposals for a new scheme that would make rent reviews for small business properties cheaper and simpler to determine.