PROHIBITION OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE RECEIVER (Hansard, 30 October 2002)

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

§ Mr. Deputy Speaker
With this we may discuss Lords amendments Nos. 157 to 160 and amendment No.165.

§ Miss Johnson
During the passage of the Bill concerns were expressed about the potential impact that the prohibition of the appointment of an administrative receiver would have on the social housing sector. Following constructive dialogues between officials and representatives from all parts of the sector, I am pleased to say that we were able to take on board and act upon their concerns. It was recognised that both the Housing Act 1996— which covers England and Wales—and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 provide for a moratorium period which provides an alternative means to facilitate rescues and provide a stay on unilateral action by lenders when registered social landlords are in financial difficulty. The provisions apply to housing associations that are registered social landlords.
Lords amendments Nos. 157 and 156 and Nos. 158 to 160 are consequential amendments. They exclude organisations that are companies from the prohibition on the appointment of an administrative receiver.
Lords amendment No. 165 ensures that the enabling power extending administration and company voluntary arrangements to industrial and provident societies does not apply to industrial and provident societies that are registered social landlords.