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Housing and Regeneration Bill

I congratulate the Minister on a very sure-footed performance. I say that while his boss, the Minister for Housing, the right hon. Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint), is sitting next to him. He did an heroic job in Committee, and I am sure he has been earmarked for promotion to other Departments that are more accident-prone than the one in which he currently serves. He did a first-class job. The Minister will have noticed that there has been a total change in the housing climate since we debated the Bill on Second Reading in November. It is now a much colder climate than when we started. The base rate has gone down, but the borrowing rates have gone up. If we look at reports of house builders, we find that they are less optimistic; and 50 per cent. of the Housing Corporation's target is now on the back of market housing— It being Ten o'clock, Mr. Deputy Speaker put the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Order [27 November]. Question agreed to. Bill read the Third time, and passed.