asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, owing to the inability of some owners of rent-restricted houses to pay for repairs at the present high costs, there is a danger of some localities becoming slums, and of some houses which are to be included in the Minister of Town and Country Planning's lists of buildings of historic or architectural interest becoming uninhabitable through decay; and what action he proposes to prevent this.

Legislation would be required to amend the Rent Restrictions Acts and I am afraid there is no prospect of this in the near future.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make any suggestion in the meantime as to how those houses are to be repaired?

I would like the hon. Member to realise that it was for the first time in the history of Parliament that the Central Housing Advisory Committee was asked to report on the preservation of buildings of historical or antiquarian interest. If there are licences required for those buildings, licences would be forthcoming, but no public money can be found until Parliament has sanctioned it.

Is it not a fact that for many years essential repairs, which have been paid for by tenants under the increase allowed under the Rent Acts, have not been put into operation, and is it not high time they undertook and performed the obligation required of them?

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.