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Draft Legislative Programme

If we are to permit local councils to construct homes again, and if we are to provide the resources for them to do so, would the hon. Gentleman concede that there should be some sort of quality test on their ability to perform that function adequately? My instinct is very strongly in favour of what my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Martin Salter) has said, but we have an obligation to prevent councils that have struggled with their existing management function from extending their housing stock.