HL Deb 16 November 2004 vol 666 cc1390-1

190 After Clause 186, insert the following new Clause—

"Decent homes standard for social housing

(1) The Secretary of State shall ensure that by 2016 all social housing shall as far as is reasonably practicable achieve a SAP rating of no lower than 65.

(2) In this section "social housing" means housing let by a registered social landlord or a local housing authority."

The Commons disagree to this amendment for the following reason—

190A Because it involves a charge on public funds, and the Commons do not offer any further reason, trusting that this reason may be deemed sufficient

Lord Bassam of Brighton

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do not insist on its Amendment No. 190 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 190A.

The new clause proposed by the amendment would require the Secretary of State to ensure that, by 2016, all existing social housing stock shall, as far as is reasonably practicable, achieve a standard assessment procedure rating of no lower than 65. The amendment and an earlier variation on it have been extensively discussed. I have little to add, save for one point. When the House last discussed the amendment, the Government had estimated that it could cost the public purse an additional £3 billion to £5 billion in extra work. The House will already be aware that, in the light of further analysis, that estimate has increased considerably. As my right honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Planning said in the other place on 8 November, we estimate that additional works to existing housing will cost some £8.5 billion. On top of that, we estimate that the cost of demolition and rebuild, where that is the only way of achieving a SAP rating of 65, would be some £20 billion. The figures rather speak for themselves. In the light of that further explanation, I invite the House, in accordance with the reason which appears on the Marshalled List as Amendment No. 190A, not to insist on Amendment No. 190.

Moved, That the House do not insist on its Amendment No. 190, to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 190A.—(Lord Bassam of Brighton.)

Baroness Hanham rose to move, as an amendment to the Motion that the House do not insist on its Amendment No. 190, to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 190A, at end insert "but do propose Amendment No. 190B in lieu thereof":

190B Insert the following new—clause—