asked the Attorney-General whether the consultations have now been completed between the Lord Chancellor's Department and the other Departments concerned about the difficulties encountered by tenants of tied cottages in not being able to present their case of hardship before a court for consideration when proceedings are taken against them for possession by landlords; and what steps are to be taken to remedy this so that county courts may in all such cases have the right to grant extensions of tenancy in suitable cases as they have in respect of those cases which are taken in their jurisdiction at present.

These consultations are still in progress.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell me what answer can be given to a person who is thrown on the street because he has no redress at the present time? A number of these cases are actually happening in regard to tied cottages. Is he aware that this matter was raised in November and that there has been ample time in which to deal with this foolish provision which does not allow the tenant to go to a county court? Is he also aware that there is not even publicity against the landlord who takes this kind of arbitrary action? This is a very serious matter. How long does the right hon. and learned Gentleman expect these investigations to take?

I have nothing that I can add to the reply of my right hon. and learned Friend on 20th January. There were, as he then pointed out in answer to the hon. Gentleman on that date, complexities, and a considerable amount of specific examination of proposals has to be gone through.