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Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2008

My Lords, I am grateful, as I am sure my colleagues in other parts of the House are, for the Minister’s full reply, which we shall study with care. I sense a reticence, which I do not understand, about the Government’s consideration of this new area of policy—which is unfinished business and a work in progress. I would be much happier with more explicit consideration of some of the problems that we have aired this evening than with an internal evaluation by the department. I take that to mean that outside bodies which have an interest can start actively engaging with the department. If there is no other way of doing it, that is the best that we can hope for. If we are given that, plus the meetings which were helpfully suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Best, we can continue to tease this policy out. It is in everyone’s interest that we get it right, as I am sure the Minister recognises. I am grateful to colleagues who have taken part in the debate. I beg leave to withdraw the Motion. Motion withdrawn. Sitting suspended.