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Housing and Regeneration Bill

I will comment on some of the points raised by hon. Members. In general, I detect warm acceptance of the amendments. We listened to the concerns expressed in Committee and in the other place; we reflected on them; and we tabled the amendments in response. I will rise to the bait on the point made by the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik) about stock transfer and ballots. He knows that we have strengthened current arrangements and made ballots on transfer of stock mandatory; that part of the Bill has been warmly welcomed. He will remember, as will the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) who is just leaving the Chamber, that my letter of 17 July dealt with evidence—[Interruption.] I apologise to the House; it was not the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield, but the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson). I reiterate what I said on Report—that the vast majority of cases of stock transfer are done fairly, clearly and transparently. In my former life as an auditor when I reviewed large-scale voluntary transfers, I noted that in a small minority of cases there was a question about the objectivity of the information provided to tenants. My hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) pointed this out in Committee and I made the same point: I want the process to remain as clear, transparent and accountable as possible, with the information being objective in 100 per cent. of stock transfer ballots.