asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on recent movements in the supply of private rented accommodation in the urban areas.

Some indications can be gained from recent studies and I shall be glad to write to the hon. Gentleman about these.

I welcome the somewhat timid remarks of the Secretary of State in the House yesterday on the private rented sector, but does the Minister realise that the rigidity of the law of tenure of private rented property has been a greater cause of homelessness than almost anything else in our society?

In 1977, when there are grown-up people wishing to rent for a short period, particularly in the urban areas, why on earth should not they be allowed to do so?

The hon. Gentleman has mentioned one factor among many which have affected the private rented sector. They are being carefully considered in our Rent Act review.