§
Amendment made: No. 126A, in page 109, line 40, leave out from beginning to end of line 6 on page 110 and insert—
'(4) Any amendment or repeal by this Act of an enactment has the same extent as the enactment amended or repealed, except that amendments or repeals of—
- (a) provisions of the Housing Associations Act 1985, or
- (b) provisions of the Housing Act 1988 relating to registered housing associations, do not extend to Scotland.
(5) Any power conferred by this Act to make consequential amendments or repeals of enactments may be exercised in relation to enactments as they extend to any part of the United Kingdom.'—[Mr. Knapman.]
§ Order for Third Reading read.—[Queen's Consent and Prince of Wales's Consent signified.]
§ 11.8 pm
§ Mr. CurryI beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
This is an excellent Bill, and I commend it to the House.
§ 11.9 pm
§ Mr. RaynsfordAlthough I would be delighted to be as brief as the Minister, I shall detain the House, but for no more than three minutes. I have three minutes to cover a Bill that affects the lives of millions of people, and that, sadly, will make an already bad housing situation much worse for many of those people. Three minutes to cover the problems of the homeless, the problems that are inadequately dealt with by the Bill, and that will become very much worse for those who will be condemned to revolving-door homelessness, and insecurity and misery as a result of the Bill.
I have two minutes to cover the problems of all those people seeking decent housing who will not get it because the Bill does nothing to expand the programme of rented housing when we need an expanded programme of investment in rented housing. There is nothing in the Bill to 1048 tackle the problem of all those home owners in difficulty, who fear that their homes will be repossessed, not to mention the million or so still trapped in negative equity.
Two minutes to cover those people who are inadequately catered for by the Bill, which tinkers with the problems rather than providing effective responses. I think especially of leaseholders, whose prospects were betrayed by the Government today. Leaseholders had a prospect of effective remedies against crooked landlords and effective prospects of enfranchising their homes, but their hopes were dashed by a Government who are in hock to the big landlords and more interested in the party's financial interests than in the safety and the prospects of leaseholders.
This is a bad, inadequate Bill, which has not coped with the country's housing needs and will, in many ways, make the problem worse. We sought to make substantial amendments to the Bill in Committee; we made many amendments. Sadly, not all those amendments have survived today, but I have the following message for the Government: "Your party will reap a very serious penalty for your actions today in turning against leaseholders and denying them the prospect of enfranchisement and sanctions against rogue landlords. Very many Tory candidates in marginal constituencies will bitterly rue the day your party betrayed leaseholders in the House."
The Labour party commits itself to a housing policy that addresses the needs of the whole nation—that copes with the needs of home owners, tenants, leaseholders and homeless people. We recognise our responsibility to introduce a proper housing policy as soon as the general election has swept the present discredited Government away. They will be remembered for the disastrous failure of their housing policy. Their time is running out.
§ 11.12 Pm
§ Mrs. MaddockI acknowledge that the Minister responded very positively to many of the suggestions that we made in Committee and in the House today. Not least, I welcome the fact that homeless families will have a right to be looked after for two years. It is a shame that it will not be permanent accommodation.
I welcome the fact that, in response to many of our worries, the Minister made changes to the Bill regarding regulations. He expressed concern earlier that I spoke about the Bill being political, but it is a fact that Conservative Members were whipped through the Division Lobby tonight to vote against the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act, which has worked well since 1977. Conservative Members voted against a long-term solution for the most vulnerable people, who have had most difficulties in life.
It was the Government who, in their last Budget, broke their promise on their commitments to spending on social housing, and in that Budget halved the amount that they had promised the year before. The Bill will mean that more people will be in temporary accommodation and increase the already burgeoning housing benefit budget. Much of that money will be spent on some of the worst accommodation in the country.
The Bill's tragedy is that it has done nothing to increase the supply of housing. That is the problem; that is why there has been an argument. How do we fit the vast number of people seeking housing into the ever-dwindling 1049 Supply? This year, we shall build 50, 000 new units—the fewest in any year since the war. That is the real problem, and that is the tragedy of what we have done here tonight.
§ Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 286, Noes 256.
1052| Division No. 118] | [11.14 pm |
| AYES | |
| Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey) | Devlin, Tim |
| Aitken, Rt Hon Jonathan | Dicks, Terry |
| Alexander, Richard | Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby) | Dover, Den |
| Allason, Rupert (Torbay) | Duncan, Alan |
| Amess, David | Duncan Smith, Iain |
| Ancram, Rt Hon Michael | Dunn, Bob |
| Arbuthnot, James | Durant, Sir Anthony |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Elletson, Harold |
| Ashby, David | Emery, Rt Hon Sir Peter |
| Atkins, Rt Hon Robert | Evans, David (Welwyn Hatfield) |
| Atkinson, David (Bour'mouth E) | Evans, Jonathan (Brecon) |
| Atkinson, Peter (Hexham) | Evans, Nigel (Ribble Valley) |
| Baker, Rt Hon Kenneth (Mole V) | Evans, Roger (Monmouth) |
| Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset) | Evennett, David |
| Baldry, Tony | Faber, David |
| Banks, Matthew (Southport) | Fabricant, Michael |
| Banks, Robert (Harrogate) | Fenner, Dame Peggy |
| Bates, Michael | Field, Barry (Isle of Wight) |
| Batiste, Spencer | Fishburn, Dudley |
| Bendall, Vivian | Forman, Nigel |
| Beresford, Sir Paul | Forsyth, Rt Hon Michael (Stirling) |
| Biffen, Rt Hon John | Forth, Eric |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman |
| Booth, Hartley | Fox, Dr Liam (Woodspring) |
| Boswell, Tim | Fox, Rt Hon Sir Marcus (Shipley) |
| Bottomley, Peter (Eltham) | Freeman, Rt Hon Roger |
| Bottomley, Rt Hon Virginia | French, Douglas |
| Bowden, Sir Andrew | Fry, Sir Peter |
| Bowis, John | Gale, Roger |
| Boyson, Rt Hon Sir Rhodes | Gallie, Phil |
| Brazier, Julian | Gardiner, Sir George |
| Bright, Sir Graham | Garel-Jones, Rt Hon Tristan |
| Brown, M (Brigg & Cl'thorpes) | Garnier, Edward |
| Browning, Mrs Angela | Gill, Christopher |
| Burns, Simon | Gillan, Cheryl |
| Burt, Alistair | Goodlad, Rt Hon Alastair |
| Butcher, John | Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles |
| Butler, Peter | Gorman, Mrs Teresa |
| Carlisle, John (Luton North) | Gorst, Sir John |
| Carlisle, Sir Kenneth (Lincoln) | Grant, Sir A (SW Cambs) |
| Carrington, Matthew | Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) |
| Carttiss, Michael | Greenway, John (Ryedale) |
| Channon, Rt Hon Paul | Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth, N) |
| Chapman, Sir Sydney | Grylls, Sir Michael |
| Churchill, Mr | Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn |
| Clappison, James | Hague, Rt Hon William |
| Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) | Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archibald |
| Clarke, Rt Hon Kenneth (Ru'clif) | Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) |
| Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey | Hampson, Dr Keith |
| Coe, Sebastian | Hanley, Rt Hon Jeremy |
| Congdon, David | Hannam, Sir John |
| Conway, Derek | Hargreaves, Andrew |
| Coombs, Anthony (Wyre For'st) | Haselhurst, Sir Alan |
| Coombs, Simon (Swindon) | Hawkins, Nick |
| Cope, Rt Hon Sir John | Hawksley, Warren |
| Couchman, James | Heald, Oliver |
| Cran, James | Hendry, Charles |
| Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire) | Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael |
| Curry, David (Skipton & Ripon) | Higgins, Rt Hon Sir Terence |
| Davies, Quentin (Stamford) | Hill, James (Southampton Test) |
| Davis, David (Boothferry) | Horam, John |
| Day, Stephen | Hordern, Rt Hon Sir Peter |
| Deva, Nirj Joseph | Howard, Rt Hon Michael |
| Howell, Rt Hon David (G'dford) | Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth |
| Howell, Sir Ralph (N Norfolk) | Pickles, Eric |
| Hughes, Robert G (Harrow W) | Porter, David (Waveney) |
| Hunt, Rt Hon David (Wirral W) | Portillo, Rt Hon Michael |
| Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne) | Powell, William (Corby) |
| Hunter, Andrew | Rathbone, Tim |
| Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas | Redwood, Rt Hon John |
| Jack, Michael | Renton, Rt Hon Tim |
| Jackson, Robert (Wantage) | Richards, Rod |
| Jessel, Toby | Riddick, Graham |
| Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey | Rifkind, Rt Hon Malcolm |
| Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) | Robathan, Andrew |
| Jones, Robert B (W Hertfdshr) | Roberts, Rt Hon Sir Wyn |
| Jopling, Rt Hon Michael | Robertson, Raymond (Ab'd'n S) |
| Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine | Robinson, Mark (Somerton) |
| Key, Robert | Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne) |
| Kirkhope, Timothy | Rowe, Andrew (Mid Kent) |
| Knapman, Roger | Rumbold, Rt Hon Dame Angela |
| Knight, Mrs Angela (Erewash) | Ryder, Rt Hon Richard |
| Knight, Rt Hon Greg (Derby N) | Sackville, Tom |
| Knight, Dame Jill (Bir'm E'st'n) | Sainsbury, Rt Hon Sir Timothy |
| Knox, Sir David | Scott, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas |
| Kynoch, George (Kincardine) | Shaw, David (Dover) |
| Lait, Mrs Jacqui | Shephard, Rt Hon Gillian |
| Lamont, Rt Hon Norman | Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge) |
| Lang, Rt Hon Ian | Shersby, Sir Michael |
| Lawrence, Sir Ivan | Sims, Roger |
| Legg, Barry | Skeet, Sir Trevor |
| Leigh, Edward | Smith, Sir Dudley (Warwick) |
| Lennox-Boyd, Sir Mark | Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) |
| Lester, Sir James (Broxtowe) | Soames, Nicholas |
| Lidington, David | Speed, Sir Keith |
| Lilley, Rt Hon Peter | Spencer, Sir Derek |
| Lloyd, Rt Hon Sir Peter (Fareham) | Spicer, Sir James (W Dorset) |
| Lord, Michael | Spicer, Sir Michael (S Worcs) |
| Luff, Peter | Spink, Dr Robert |
| Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas | Spring, Richard |
| MacGregor, Rt Hon John | Sproat, Iain |
| MacKay, Andrew | Squire, Robin (Hornchurch) |
| Maclean, Rt Hon David | Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John |
| McLoughlin, Patrick | Steen, Anthony |
| McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick | Stephen, Michael |
| Madel, Sir David | Stern, Michael |
| Maitland, Lady Olga | Stewart, Allan |
| Major, Rt Hon John | Streeter, Gary |
| Malone, Gerald | Sweeney, Walter |
| Mans, Keith | Tapsell, Sir Peter |
| Marland, Paul | Taylor, Ian (Esher) |
| Marshall, John (Hendon S) | Taylor, John M (Solihull) |
| Marshall, Sir Michael (Arundel) | Taylor, Sir Teddy (Southend, E) |
| Martin, David (Portsmouth S) | Thomason, Roy |
| Mawhinney, Rt Hon Dr Brian | Thompson, Sir Donald (C'er V) |
| Mayhew, Rt Hon Sir Patrick | Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N) |
| Mellor, Rt Hon David | Thornton, Sir Malcolm |
| Merchant, Piers | Townsend, Cyril D (Bexl'yh'th) |
| Mills, Iain | Tracey, Richard |
| Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) | Tredinnick, David |
| Moate, Sir Roger | Trend, Michael |
| Monro, Rt Hon Sir Hector | Trotter, Neville |
| Montgomery, Sir Fergus | Twinn, Dr Ian |
| Moss, Malcolm | Vaughan, Sir Gerard |
| Needham, Rt Hon Richard | Viggers, Peter |
| Neubert, Sir Michael | Waldegrave, Rt Hon William |
| Newton, Rt Hon Tony | Walden, George |
| Nicholls, Patrick | Walker, Bill (N Tayside) |
| Nicholson, David (Taunton) | Waller, Gary |
| Norris, Steve | Ward, John |
| Onslow, Rt Hon Sir Cranley | Wardle, Charles (Bexhill) |
| Oppenheim, Phillip | Waterson, Nigel |
| Ottaway, Richard | Watts, John |
| Page, Richard | Wells, Bowen |
| Paice, James | Wheeler, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Patnick, Sir Irvine | Whitney, Ray |
| Patten, Rt Hon John | Whittingdale, John |
| Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Widdecombe, Ann |
| Pawsey, James | Wiggin, Sir Jerry |
| Wilkinson, John | Young, Rt Hon Sir George |
| Willetts, David | |
| Winterton, Nicholas (Macc'f'ld) | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Wolfson, Mark | Mr. Gyles Brandreth and |
| Yeo, Tim | Mr. Timothy Wood. |
| NOES | |
| Abbott, Ms Diane | Dobson, Frank |
| Adams, Mrs Irene | Dowd, Jim |
| Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE) | Dunwoody, Mrs Gwyneth |
| Allen, Graham | Eagle, Ms Angela |
| Anderson, Donald (Swansea E) | Eastham, Ken |
| Armstrong, Hilary | Etherington, Bill |
| Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy | Evans, John (St Helens N) |
| Ashton, Joe | Fatchett, Derek |
| Austin-Walker, John | Field, Frank (Birkenhead) |
| Banks, Tony (Newham NW) | Foster, Rt Hon Derek |
| Barron, Kevin | Foster, Don (Bath) |
| Battle, John | Foulkes, George |
| Bayley, Hugh | Fyfe, Maria |
| Beckett, Rt Hon Margaret | Galbraith, Sam |
| Beggs, Roy | Galloway, George |
| Berth, Rt Hon A J | Gapes, Mike |
| Bell, Stuart | George, Bruce |
| Benn, Rt Hon Tony | Gerrard, Neil |
| Bennett, Andrew F | Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John |
| Benton, Joe | Godsiff, Roger |
| Bermingham, Gerald | Golding, Mrs Llin |
| Berry, Roger | Gordon, Mildred |
| Blunkett, David | Graham, Thomas |
| Boateng, Paul | Grant, Bernie (Tottenham) |
| Bradley, Keith | Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S) |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) |
| Brown, N (N'c'tle upon Tyne E) | Grocott, Bruce |
| Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) | Gunnell, John |
| Burden, Richard | Hain, Peter |
| Byers, Stephen | Hall, Mike |
| Caborn, Richard | Hanson, David |
| Callaghan, Jim | Hardy, Peter |
| Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge) | Harman, Ms Harriet |
| Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) | Harvey, Nick |
| Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) | Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy |
| Cann, Jamie | Henderson, Doug |
| Carlile, Alexander (Montgomery) | Heppell, John |
| Chidgey, David | Hill, Keith (Streatham) |
| Chisholm, Malcolm | Hinchliffe, David |
| Church, Judith | Hodge, Margaret |
| Clapham, Michael | Hoey, Kate |
| Clark, Dr David (South Shields) | Hogg, Norman (Cumbernauld) |
| Clarke, Eric (Midlothian) | Hoon, Geoffrey |
| Clarke, Tom (Monklands W) | Howarth, Alan (Strat'rd-on-A) |
| Clelland, David | Howarth, George (Knowsley North) |
| Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Howells, Dr Kim (Pontypridd) |
| Coffey, Ann | Hoyle, Doug |
| Cohen, Harry | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen North) |
| Connarty, Michael | Hughes, Roy (Newport E) |
| Corbett, Robin | Hughes, Simon (Southward) |
| Corbyn, Jeremy | Hutton, John |
| Corston, Jean | Illsley, Eric |
| Cousins, Jim | Ingram, Adam |
| Cox, Tom | Jackson, Glenda (H'stead) |
| Cunliffe, Lawrence | Jackson, Helen (Shef'ld, H) |
| Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE) | Jamieson, David |
| Cunningham, Rt Hon Dr John | Jenkins, Brian (SE Staff) |
| Cunningham, Roseanna | Johnston, Sir Russell |
| Dafis, Cynog | Jones, Barry (Alyn and D'side) |
| Darling, Alistair | Jones, leuan Wyn (Ynys Môn) |
| Davidson, Ian | Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) |
| Davies, Bryan (Oldham C'tral) | Jones, Lynne (B'ham S O) |
| Davies, Chris (L'Boro & S'worth) | Jones, Martyn (Clwyd, SW) |
| Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli) | Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham) |
| Davies, Ron (Caerphilly) | Jowell, Tessa |
| Davis, Terry (B'ham, H'dge H'I) | Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald |
| Denham, John | Keen, Alan |
| Dewar, Donald | Kennedy, Charles (Ross, C&S) |
| Dixon, Don | Kennedy, Jane (L'pool Br'dg'n) |
| Khabra, Piara S | Quin, Ms Joyce |
| Kilfoyle, Peter | Radice, Giles |
| Kirkwood, Archy | Randall, Stuart |
| Lestor, Joan (Eccles) | Raynsford, Nick |
| Lewis, Terry | Reid, Dr John |
| Liddell, Mrs Helen | Rendel, David |
| Livingstone, Ken | Robertson, George (Hamilton) |
| Lloyd, Tony (Stretford) | Robinson, Geoffrey (Co'try NW) |
| Llwyd, Elfyn | Roche, Mrs Barbara |
| Loyden, Eddie | Rogers, Allan |
| Lynne, Ms Liz | Rooker, Jeff |
| McAllion, John | Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) |
| McAvoy, Thomas | Ross, William (E Londonderry) |
| McCartney, Ian | Rowlands, Ted |
| McCartney, Robert | Ruddock, Joan |
| McFall, John | Salmond, Alex |
| McGrady, Eddie | Sedgemore, Brian |
| McKelvey, William | Sheerman, Barry |
| Mackinlay, Andrew | Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert |
| McLeish, Henry | Shore, Rt Hon Peter |
| Maclennan, Robert | Short, Clare |
| McMaster, Gordon | Simpson, Alan |
| MacShane, Denis | Skinner, Dennis |
| Maddock, Diana | Smith, Andrew (Oxford E) |
| Mahon, Alice | Smith, Chris (Isl'ton S & F'sbury) |
| Mandelson, Peter | Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) |
| Marshall, David (Shettleston) | Soley, Clive |
| Marshall, Jim (Leicester, S) | Spellar, John |
| Martin, Michael J (Springburn) | Squire, Rachel (Dunfermline W) |
| Martlew, Eric | Steel, Rt Hon Sir David |
| Maxton, John | Steinberg, Gerry |
| Meacher, Michael | Straw, Jack |
| Meale, Alan | Sutcliffe, Gerry |
| Michael, Alun | Taylor, Matthew (Truro) |
| Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) | Thompson, Jack (Wansbeck) |
| Michie, Mrs Ray (Argyll & Bute) | Timms, Stephen |
| Milburn, Alan | Tipping, Paddy |
| Miller, Andrew | Touhig, Don |
| Moonie, Dr Lewis | Trickett, Jon |
| Morgan, Rhodri | Turner, Dennis |
| Morley, Elliot | Tyler, Paul |
| Morris, Estelle (B'ham Yardley) | Vaz, Keith |
| Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon) | Walker, A Cecil (Belfast N) |
| Mowlam, Marjorie | Wallace, James |
| Mudie, George | Walley, Joan |
| Mullin, Chris | Wardell, Gareth (Gower) |
| Murphy, Paul | Wareing, Robert N |
| Nicholson, Emma (Devon West) | Watson, Mike |
| Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon | Welsh, Andrew |
| O'Brien, Mike (N W'kshire) | Wicks, Malcolm |
| O'Brien, William (Normanton) | Wigley, Dafydd |
| O'Hara, Edward | Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Sw'n W) |
| Olner, Bill | Williams, Alan W (Carmarthen) |
| Pearson, Ian | Worthington, Tony |
| Pendry, Tom | Wray, Jimmy |
| Pickthall, Colin | Wright, Dr Tony |
| Pike, Peter L | Young, David (Bolton SE) |
| Pope, Greg | |
| Prentice, Gordon (Pendle) | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Primarolo, Dawn | Mrs. Bridget Prentice and |
| Purchase, Ken | Mr. Clive Betts. |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time, and passed.