Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has given further consideration to the extent of the proposed power for the Commission for Racial Equality to issue codes on housing.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am advised that problems relating to the rules of relevance are likely to prevent us from introducing in another place an amendment providing in the Housing Bill as comprehensive a power as we would have liked. We expect, however, that we will be able to cover not only rented housing but housing that is leasehold or occupied under licence and agencies such as building societies and estate agents in so far as they deal with these kinds of accommodation. We aim to extend the power to the rest of the housing field when a suitable opportunity arises. It will be for the commission to decide what action to take in the light of this.