asked the Secretary of State for the Environment under what specific legislative powers his hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction was acting when he announced to the House on 5 February, Official Report, columns 1156–7, that guarantees and indemnities and the transfer of land and property by local authorities to housing associations and other persons in connection with the acquisition, construction, conversion, rehabilitation, improvement, maintenance and management of accommodation for letting or licensing after midnight that day would be declared unlawful and void; and by whom such transactions would be so declared.

My statement to the House on 5 February made it clear that the relevant legislation would be included in the Local Government Bill. The Bill was introduced on 18 February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the continuation of the Rent Acts as they apply to the privately rented housing sector.

The Government have no plans to amend the Rent Acts in this Parliament.