§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to alter the statutory duty of local authorities to inspect multiple occupation houses.
§ Mr. BaldryWe have no plans to alter the statutory powers of local authorities to inspect houses in multiple occupation. They have a duty to ensure that houses in multiple occupation—HMOs—with at least three stories and a combined floor area over 500 sq m are provided with adequate means of escape from fire, and have powers to inspect all HMOs.