Furnished Lettings 48. Mr. Stanley asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the impact of the Rent Act 1974 on the supply of furnished accommodation to rent. Mr. Freeson It is as yet too early for the full effect of the Act in this respect to be estimated, but to the extent that sitting tenants are enabled to remain in their present accommodation by virtue of the statutory security provided by the Act there will be some reduction in the number of vacancies being advertised. 78. Mr. Arthur Latham asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to inform tenants in furnished lettings of the rights which have been extended to the majority of furnished tenants under the Rent Act 1974. Mr. Kaufman This was the subject of a major Press campaign, involving frequent advertisements in the national and provincial Press—and on one occasion in the immigrant and social workers' Press—as well as 299 transmissions throughout the United Kingdom of a television commercial about the Act. 84. Mr. Knox asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that the effects of the Rent Act 1974, both on extending protection to tenants in the majority of existing furnished lettings and on the supply of this accommodation in the future, are closely maintained. Mr. Freeson The main source of data on changes in the private rented sector must always be the census. However, the Department is reviewing possible interim means of securing information on the effects of the Act.