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Housing and Regeneration Bill

I never speak in order to offend, Madam Deputy Speaker. I was, in fact, quoting tenants' leaders. I certainly do not approve of that statement myself. I could never subscribe to that—[Laughter.] The time is slipping away, so let me make an important point about the duties of Oftenant. They extend to"““the nature of the housing demands to be addressed,… the extent to which demand is to be supplied,… criteria for allocating accommodation,… terms of tenancies,… levels of rent (and the rules may, in particular, include provision for minimum or maximum levels of rent or levels of increase or decrease of rent),… maintenance,…procedures for addressing complaints by tenants against landlords,… methods for consulting and informing tenants,… methods of enabling tenants to influence or control the management of their accommodation and environment,… anti-social behaviour,… landlords' contribution to…environmental…well-being””—" and so it goes on. That is actually describing new means-testing—and my party does not approve of mass means-testing, so I say to my Ministers that that has to be addressed seriously. We cannot, we will not, and we must not tolerate a situation in which people's tenancy of a local authority home—or, indeed, of an ALMO—depends on their income. I hold as an ideal mixed estates of people from different walks of life and I do not believe that it is within the Labour philosophy to exclude people from what may have been their home for 20 years on the basis that they have suddenly got a better job. That is an absolute outrage. In supporting the Bill tonight, I want to make clear the responsibility of Members in Committee to ensure that proper amendment is made in good time.