asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that large numbers of sub-tenants in the City of Glasgow are uninformed or misinformed with regard to their rights of tenure; and if he will take steps to have the legal position in this matter made more widely known.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a booklet explaining the main provisions of the Rent Restrictions Acts prepared by my Department for issue to local authorities and Citizens' Advice Bureaux. The provisions of the Acts, however, are so complex that it would be misleading to rely on a simplified version of them—[Laughter.]I am rather amused at the laughter from the other side, because I was not responsible for the Rent Restrictions Acts—and I would suggest that any sub-tenant who is in doubt about his position should take legal advice.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the legal borderline between lettings of furnished and unfurnished rooms is very obscure to many of these people?

I am certainly aware of the difficulties associated with the interpretation of these Acts, but I am not legally qualified to give advice.

But is it not about time that the right hon. Gentleman, who is fully aware of all the Acts, recognised that, in view of the most unsatisfactory position prevailing as a result of the Acts, he should bring in some legislation to amend that most unsatisfactory situation which the people of Scotland have deplored for years?

Yes, I am aware of the difficulties in connection with many Acts passed by the Conservative Party that sooner or later will be abolished.

Can a copy of the booklet be supplied to each of the Scottish Members?

If there is a request, yes.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Glasgow Town Council have set up a sub-committee to publish information to such tenants giving advice and information on the Rent Restrictions Acts, that leaflets have already been circulated and that they are drawn up by a fully competent lawyer, namely, the town clerk himself?

May I appeal to the right hon. Gentleman seriously? He knows as well as I do that the overwhelming majority of the people of Scotland, including his own party, want to reform the Rent Restrictions Acts. "Sooner or later," he tell us. Is that all he can tell the people of Scotland? Will he not give us some comfort more than the words 'sooner or later"?

Sooner.