asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will advise local authorities which are not housing authorities to abide by the principles of the Rent Acts when acting as landlords.

No. The Rent Acts were directed at conditions prevailing in the private rented sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds he is continuing the exemption of county councils from the Rent Acts.

We shall be considering the position of county council tenants along with all public sector tenants in the further development of our proposals for a tenants' charter.