asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received advocating safeguarding the position of long leaseholds in privately-owned flats.

My Department has in recent years received a substantial number of letters from individuals and organisations about the problems associated with leasehold flats. In addition, the committee which is examining, under the chairmanship of Mr. Edward Nugee QC, the management of privately owned block of flats has received a large amount of evidence about such problems. I expect to receive its report shortly.