§ 10. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he will give to local authorities to protect the safety of those in houses of multiple occupation.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonMy right hon. Friend has recently issued detailed guidance to local authorities on 22 May about their powers to control houses in multiple occupation and protect the safety of the people who live in them.
§ Mr. AndersonThe Minister must be aware from representations from the Institution of Environmental Health Officers and those working in the field of their continued concern about the real dangers to the health and safety of that vulnerable section of our population who live in houses in mulitiple occupation. Will he at least undertake to look sympathetically at the Bill that has been introduced by Baroness Vickers in the other place, which would impose duties on local authorities to enforce certain standards for health and safety and would provide regular inspections by local authorities of houses in multiple occupation?
§ Mr. RobinsonWe are aware of the Bill to which the hon. Gentleman referred. Indeed, many of its provisions contain sympathetic and sensible ideas. However, our current legislation is adequate. Indeed, we have introduced some new legislation fairly recently and we want to see how that works before taking the matter further.