asked the Minister of Health whether he will take immediate steps to end the exploitation of the present shortage of housing in various parts of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, by landlords who, in order to evade rent control, are now offering houses for public auction, thereby causing serious inflation in values of house property and extreme hardship to those whose incomes only permit the payment of weekly rents and who cannot afford the high prices now being demanded for the sale of vacant houses?
A house does not cease to be subject to the control of the Rent Restrictions Acts by reason of change of ownership on sale. My right hon. Friend is not aware that the practice to which my hon. Friend refers is extensive but his powers of requisitioning to meet the needs of persons required to move in connection with the war effort would enable him to deal with any house required for their needs which is unreasonably kept vacant in order that a high price may be obtained by its sale. As regards the general question of the selling-price of houses, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies recently given to Questions on this subject by my hon. Friends the Members for York and Cheltenham, of which I am sending him copies. I would remind my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend's responsibilities are limited to England and Wales.