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Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

I would be happy for the noble Lord to write to me but I am astonished that Mr Rogers did not consider this point. It is not strictly within the regulatory function that the noble Lord and the Bill seem to be dealing with but it is nevertheless a fully regulatory activity of local authorities. Housing management is a difficult job and some areas are rife with anti-social behaviour, but local authorities have to deal with it and take steps to eradicate it as far as they can. The fact that it was left out by Rogers is no answer at all. If the local authorities are being told to allocate their resources to relevant functions, and the relevant functions do not include this one, they are being told in effect that this activity is being downgraded. The Government have been emphasising for some time the importance of tackling anti-social behaviour. I hope, therefore, that the Minister will include in his letter to me an answer to the point about whether it is still considered to be important by the Government. I believe it is important. It is certainly important to the public because they hate it.