The influence of a quadrupole pair interaction on K" = I + states in rare earth nuclei is investigated using the Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation. Comparison of the obtained results with available experimental data indicates a rather weak quadrupole pair interaction in these nuclei. The calculation of the B(M1) strength is extended to higher energies to account for the recently observed higher lying M I-strength. The differential cross section of inelastic electron scattering is calculated within DWBA for lower lying K" = I + states and is seen to be consistent with the interpretation that the observed states around 3MeV are of isovector convection current character and have their main M I-strength coming from natural parity proton components.