moved Amendment No. 78: 78: Clause 34, page 15, line 29, at end insert ““or regulated low cost home ownership accommodation”” The noble Lord said: It sometimes appears that the Bill does not reflect the fact that housing associations are not-for-profit corporations. So if they have a surplus of funds,...

moved Amendment No. 78: 78: Clause 34, page 15, line 29, at end insert ““or regulated low cost home ownership accommodation”” The noble Lord said: It sometimes appears that the Bill does not reflect the fact that housing associations are not-for-profit corporations. So if they have a surplus of funds,...

The more I listen to noble Lords the more I believe there are curious things in this clause that I did not understand when I tabled my amendment. There are some curiosities in it which need bottoming. There is no fundamental difference between the Minister and other Members of Committee...

The more I listen to noble Lords the more I believe there are curious things in this clause that I did not understand when I tabled my amendment. There are some curiosities in it which need bottoming. There is no fundamental difference between the Minister and other Members of Committee...

I query what seems to be the extraordinarily far-reaching nature of this clause. It is very short and reads: "““Business (1) The HCA may carry on any business. (2) In subsection (1) ‘business’ includes undertaking””." I take it that this has nothing to do with assisting us all in our...

I query what seems to be the extraordinarily far-reaching nature of this clause. It is very short and reads: "““Business (1) The HCA may carry on any business. (2) In subsection (1) ‘business’ includes undertaking””." I take it that this has nothing to do with assisting us all in our...

I share the curiosity of the noble Lord, Lord Greaves. Some years ago, when my wife and I were in Sri Lanka, there was a hotel which had been run by the Dutch for well over 200 years. My wife asked whether she could see the literature advising potential clients...

I share the curiosity of the noble Lord, Lord Greaves. Some years ago, when my wife and I were in Sri Lanka, there was a hotel which had been run by the Dutch for well over 200 years. My wife asked whether she could see the literature advising potential clients...

moved Amendment No. 77A: 77A: Clause 33, page 15, line 11, at end insert ““take any reasonable actions either directly, or by supporting or facilitating the actions of other persons or organisations which are designed to—”” The noble Lord said: We now move on to a bit of the Bill...

moved Amendment No. 77A: 77A: Clause 33, page 15, line 11, at end insert ““take any reasonable actions either directly, or by supporting or facilitating the actions of other persons or organisations which are designed to—”” The noble Lord said: We now move on to a bit of the Bill...

As the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, has anticipated, the explanation in this case is similar to the previous one. The ability to establish a company or to acquire an interest in one is subject to the Secretary of State’s consent. That ability is required to enable the agency to operate...

As the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, has anticipated, the explanation in this case is similar to the previous one. The ability to establish a company or to acquire an interest in one is subject to the Secretary of State’s consent. That ability is required to enable the agency to operate...

Once again, I have some sympathy with the noble Lord, Lord Greaves. Essentially, Clause 33 is in two parts, but paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (g) of subsection (1) very much parallel the functions of the regional development agencies and I wonder what the relationship between those bodies and...

Once again, I have some sympathy with the noble Lord, Lord Greaves. Essentially, Clause 33 is in two parts, but paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (g) of subsection (1) very much parallel the functions of the regional development agencies and I wonder what the relationship between those bodies and...

It seems somewhat odd to refer to an Act from 1985. That Act says, "““shall not exceed £2,500 million or such greater sum not exceeding £3,000 million as the Secretary of State may specify by order made with the consent of the Treasury””." The value of money in 2008 is...

It seems somewhat odd to refer to an Act from 1985. That Act says, "““shall not exceed £2,500 million or such greater sum not exceeding £3,000 million as the Secretary of State may specify by order made with the consent of the Treasury””." The value of money in 2008 is...

I speak on behalf of my noble friend Lady Hamwee. She is not in her place because she has not yet returned from a conference. The reason for my opposition to the clause standing part of the Bill is to enable me to question whether it is appropriate for specified...

I speak on behalf of my noble friend Lady Hamwee. She is not in her place because she has not yet returned from a conference. The reason for my opposition to the clause standing part of the Bill is to enable me to question whether it is appropriate for specified...

moved Amendment No. 76: 76: Clause 22, page 12, line 14, leave out subsection (4) and insert— ““( ) The terms and conditions on which financial assistance is given shall, in particular, include provision as to— (a) the circumstances in which the assistance must be repaid, or otherwise made good,...

moved Amendment No. 76: 76: Clause 22, page 12, line 14, leave out subsection (4) and insert— ““( ) The terms and conditions on which financial assistance is given shall, in particular, include provision as to— (a) the circumstances in which the assistance must be repaid, or otherwise made good,...

I am grateful to everyone who has taken part and to the Minister for setting out government policy. I did not expect her to do other than that, but she rightly reminded us that a major review is taking place, which is precisely why I used the phrase ““in the...

I am grateful to everyone who has taken part and to the Minister for setting out government policy. I did not expect her to do other than that, but she rightly reminded us that a major review is taking place, which is precisely why I used the phrase ““in the...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for the explanation. I thought that that was the intent behind his proposal, because of the changes that would be introduced by the amendment. I understand why he has pressed the point, but I shall explain why we need the flexibility that we...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for the explanation. I thought that that was the intent behind his proposal, because of the changes that would be introduced by the amendment. I understand why he has pressed the point, but I shall explain why we need the flexibility that we...

The bidding process for housing associations is conducted on an annual basis and there are rolling programmes. Some housing associations bid very regularly for the funds as they come forward. Local authorities have not been eligible to bid for social housing grant, which was a change in policy. However, we...

The bidding process for housing associations is conducted on an annual basis and there are rolling programmes. Some housing associations bid very regularly for the funds as they come forward. Local authorities have not been eligible to bid for social housing grant, which was a change in policy. However, we...

No, I accept the principle that I said I accepted. However, I would not accept a principle that included an element of retrospectivity and tweaked it by being reasonable when one came to it. In the commercial world—there are large amounts of money and big commercial interests here as well...

No, I accept the principle that I said I accepted. However, I would not accept a principle that included an element of retrospectivity and tweaked it by being reasonable when one came to it. In the commercial world—there are large amounts of money and big commercial interests here as well...

I hear what Members have to say on this issue. In its broadest terms, I can see why there might be concern. The situation has been exacerbated by the uncertainties that we are all observing in the housing market and the way in which housing finance is moving.

I hear what Members have to say on this issue. In its broadest terms, I can see why there might be concern. The situation has been exacerbated by the uncertainties that we are all observing in the housing market and the way in which housing finance is moving.

We cannot do that.

We cannot do that.

I am reassured that the Minister will bring something back on Report. I am sure that on careful inspection there will turn out to be some tweaks and improvements to be made to what we have at the moment, not least bearing in mind my point that sometimes there is...

I am reassured that the Minister will bring something back on Report. I am sure that on careful inspection there will turn out to be some tweaks and improvements to be made to what we have at the moment, not least bearing in mind my point that sometimes there is...

I broadly agree with almost everything that the noble Lord, Lord Best, said and a lot of what my noble friend Lord Greaves said. The Minister knows of my concerns. I hope that we will have an opportunity to reflect on this matter and that she will come back with...

I broadly agree with almost everything that the noble Lord, Lord Best, said and a lot of what my noble friend Lord Greaves said. The Minister knows of my concerns. I hope that we will have an opportunity to reflect on this matter and that she will come back with...

Before the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, responds, I would like to ask the Minister about the point she made about drawing the attention of local planning authorities to the issue. To put it bluntly, what good would that do? If a local planning authority turned down an application because it...

Before the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, responds, I would like to ask the Minister about the point she made about drawing the attention of local planning authorities to the issue. To put it bluntly, what good would that do? If a local planning authority turned down an application because it...

I shall deal with the amendments together. As the noble Lord has explained, Amendment No. 90B would require the HCA to consult on the events which might lead it to exercise its powers in relation to the recovery or recycling of social housing assistance and to publish the outcome of...

I shall deal with the amendments together. As the noble Lord has explained, Amendment No. 90B would require the HCA to consult on the events which might lead it to exercise its powers in relation to the recovery or recycling of social housing assistance and to publish the outcome of...