asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps at an early date to introduce legislation to protect occupying leaseholders whose building leases, after having been in operation for many years, are terminating, from being ejected from their homes in the premises concerned; if, in the meanwhile, he will direct the appropriate authorities to requisition the respective premises for the leaseholders on the termination of the leases, in view of the large number of homes involved; and whether he will instruct the authorities to publicise widely their powers in this regard.

The Government are considering the general question of leasehold property but I can hold out no prospect of early legislation in the matter. While I do not feel that I could properly give a general authority to requisition premises for the protection of leaseholders, I should be prepared to consider applications from local authorities for such powers in any particular cases of hardship.

Would my right hon. Friend circulate particulars of requisitioning powers to local authorities in consequence of the fact that there are so many thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of houses, the leases of which are falling in, and in respect of which there is no protection under the Rent Acts for the tenants?

It would be entirely improper to use the powers of requisitioning unless it can be shown that there are cases of hardship. It would be trying to get round the Statute and I could not conceivably use such a method. It is for Parliament to legislate if it wants to alter the law, not for Ministers to circumvent the law.

While understanding that my right hon. Friend cannot introduce legislation because the Session is nearly over, will he keep his mind open for next Session?

My mind is always open.