HC Deb 29 April 1996 vol 276 cc770-1

  1. '.—(1) The Corporation shall establish (and may from time to time vary) criteria which should be satisfied by a body seeking registration as a social landlord; and in deciding whether to register a body the Corporation shall have regard to whether those criteria are met.
  2. (2) The Corporation shall establish (and may from time to time vary) criteria which should be satisfied where such a body seeks to be removed from the register of social landlords; and in deciding whether to remove a body from the register the Corporation shall have regard to whether those criteria are met.
  3. (3) Before establishing or varying any such criteria the Corporation shall consult such bodies representative of registered social landlords, and such bodies representative of local authorities, as it thinks fit.
  4. (4) The Corporation shall publish the criteria for registration and the criteria for removal from the register in such manner as the Corporation considers appropriate for bringing the criteria to the notice of bodies representative of registered social landlords and bodies representative of local authorities.'.—[Mr. Curry.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

3.32 pm
The Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration (Mr. David Curry)

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Madam Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Government amendments Nos. 65 to 67 and 71.

Mr. Curry

A large number of amendments to this part of the Bill are Government amendments that reflect commitments which I gave to Members who served on the Committee. There are also a number of Opposition amendments, but not in this group.

The Government amendments honour commitments made in Committee to require the corporation to consult relevant parties on the criteria for registering and deregistering social landlords, and before issuing a general consent on the disposal of land by a registered social landlord. The new clause, I am sure, will be welcomed by hon. Members on both sides of the House.

Mr. Nick Raynsford (Greenwich)

As the Minister has made clear, new clause 14 has been introduced in response to amendments that we tabled in Committee. Those amendments sought to achieve greater clarity in the role of the Housing Corporation in registering and deregistering social landlords and also in the relationship of the Housing Corporation with local authorities and social landlords, including its consultation obligations.

We welcome new clause 14 and the amendments, which give effect to the undertaking that the Minister gave in Committee.

Mrs. Diana Maddock (Christchurch)

I especially welcome new clause 14, which will provide that the Housing Corporation will have to consult not only the National Federation of Housing Associations, but local authorities. That is in line with amendments that I tabled in Committee. I also welcome amendment No. 67 because it is in line with amendments tabled by me in Committee.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.

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