§ Mrs. MaddockI beg to move amendment No. 149, in page 101, line 17, at end insert—
This does not apply where the person concerned is -entitled to reasonable preference in the allocation of housing accommodation under Part VI of this Act.'.Again I shall be brief. The amendment would remove the two-year restriction on the use of a local authority's stock to provide temporary accommodation. Under the Bill, if a local authority houses a homeless family in its own stock in the two-year period, that family will have to be taken out of that property. It is madness. We tried to persuade the Minister in Committee, where he was pressed heavily by all members about how it would work. Is he saying that a family that has been in a local authority tenancy for two years because it was the best place to put them when they were homeless will have to be moved out? That is not sensible. The Minister has argued that it is sensible and I am sure that he will again.
§ Mr. CurryI am afraid that the hon. Lady is right. The provision is necessary to buttress the two-year rule. 1043 Housing associations are a different matter. I intend to try to extend the leasing arrangements in private sector accommodation so as to give local authorities a better and higher-quality alternative in the private rented sector. However the rule is central to buttressing the two-year duty. She will acknowledge that we have extended it to two years. I am afraid that I am unable to accept the amendment.
§ Mrs. MaddockI acknowledge that the Minister extended the period to two years and welcome the fact that he will consider helping housing associations and others to use private sector accommodation that they manage to house homeless families for rather longer than the lets that such people might have got in the private sector. In view of the amendments that have been voted down, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.