THE HOUSING REGISTER

HC Deb 22 July 1996 vol 282 c91

Lords amendment: No. 174, in page 90, line 16, after ("it") insert ("and other relevant matters")

Mr. Curry

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Madam Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendment No. 176.

Mr. Curry

These two small amendments are intended to improve the provisions about the housing register by ensuring that it is sufficiently comprehensive. Amendment No. 174 will ensure that the register contains information not only about the applicant but about other relevant matters—for example, other members of his or her household and the circumstances in which he or she lives. The information will be confidential because of other provisions in the Bill.

Amendment No. 176 would give an authority the discretion to remove someone from its register if he or she asks it to do so, where he or she is owed a duty by that authority under the homelessness provisions. At the moment, the authorities have no option but to remove him or her. It is sensible to give the housing authority that option, as it would remove abuses—for example, people seeking to remove their name from the register and then making a new application.

The amendments are technical but useful improvements to how the register will work, and I invite the House to agree with them.

Lords amendment agreed to.