27/01/2017

:00:20. > :00:26.Order, order! Point of order Mr Burrows. The question is that this

:00:27. > :00:34.House to sit in Private. As many as are of the opinion, say, "aye". To

:00:35. > :00:46.the contrary, "no". The noes have it, the noes have it. That was

:00:47. > :00:52.close, that! Sometimes we can do things very swiftly! The clerk will

:00:53. > :00:55.now proceed to read the orders of the day. Homelessness Reduction Bill

:00:56. > :00:57.as amended in the public bill committed to be considered. We begin

:00:58. > :01:02.with new clause one with which it with new clause one with which it

:01:03. > :01:09.will be convenient to consider new clauses two and three. Mr Andy

:01:10. > :01:15.Slaughter to move new clause one. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It

:01:16. > :01:20.really is a pleasure to be opening a series of debates this morning on

:01:21. > :01:25.this important bill which, if passed, will mark a sea change in

:01:26. > :01:30.the way that homelessness treated in this country, and this is a rare

:01:31. > :01:39.creature, a Private members Bill with a hope of success. I should not

:01:40. > :01:46.tempt fate this only in proceedings! But I cannot see the usual suspect

:01:47. > :01:51.sitting behind the, said that encourages me already. It has

:01:52. > :01:55.support from I think all parties, it importantly has Government support,

:01:56. > :01:59.I suspect we would not have got this far, and indeed we should not forget

:02:00. > :02:03.the good work that the Select Committee and the chair of the

:02:04. > :02:07.Select Committee have done in supporting it getting this far. And

:02:08. > :02:11.of course I pay tribute at this stage to the sponsor of the bill,

:02:12. > :02:17.who I think now knows more about the intricacies of homelessness law that

:02:18. > :02:23.he perhaps ever wanted to. There are matters still to be resolved, but I

:02:24. > :02:28.hope, and I said is advisedly, that all those matters are discussed and

:02:29. > :02:34.can be resolved this morning, and certainly for my part I don't intend

:02:35. > :02:37.to go long on this, and although there are certainly important

:02:38. > :02:43.matters that need to be covered, I hope in the time we have available

:02:44. > :02:53.this morning that we will be able to complete all stages. Let me begin by

:02:54. > :02:58.addressing the new clauses and let me be clear from the beginning that

:02:59. > :03:04.it is not my intention to press clauses two and three to a vote, and

:03:05. > :03:08.I'm hopeful when the Minister speaks I will hear words that encourage me

:03:09. > :03:14.not to press new clause one to either. An interesting feature of

:03:15. > :03:18.this bill has been the constructive discussions that have gone on

:03:19. > :03:24.outside of committee, of course, not in committee, that would not be

:03:25. > :03:32.appropriate at all! Outside committee, my last e-mail at about

:03:33. > :03:36.11pm last night, I appreciate it might have been passed his bedtime

:03:37. > :03:41.so he might not have had time to respond, but I think we are getting

:03:42. > :03:49.where we want to go. Having said that, new clause one in particular

:03:50. > :03:53.does deal with perhaps the central unresolved issue, which relates not

:03:54. > :03:58.to the content of the bill, we will come onto that in the Government

:03:59. > :04:03.amendments later on, but the implementation, and in particular

:04:04. > :04:06.whether the resources the Government has set aside are sufficient. New

:04:07. > :04:11.clause to back row and three, which I will address in a moment, are also

:04:12. > :04:19.important because they really are what stands behind this bill, which

:04:20. > :04:23.is legislation in itself is not going to tackle the homelessness

:04:24. > :04:29.crisis in this country. To be fair to the sponsor, he has at all stages

:04:30. > :04:33.that that is the case and indeed the article published this morning

:04:34. > :04:39.repeats that and I appreciate that, but nevertheless we cannot look at

:04:40. > :04:40.this bill in a vacuum, we have to look at the surrounding

:04:41. > :04:47.circumstances and nothing illustrates that better than the

:04:48. > :04:54.figures that were released two days ago in relation to rough sleeping

:04:55. > :05:02.which repealed absolutely shocking 16% increase year on year -- which

:05:03. > :05:13.revealed. There are now more than 4000 people sleeping rough on the

:05:14. > :05:17.streets of the UK, and that is one person which is one person to many.

:05:18. > :05:21.What should particularly alarmed this House is the fact that this is

:05:22. > :05:27.a crisis that does not need to be there. Under the last Labour

:05:28. > :05:29.Government, rough sleeping fell by three quarters because of direct

:05:30. > :05:32.Government intervention and coordination not only with the local

:05:33. > :05:40.authorities but also many homelessness charities who also

:05:41. > :05:46.stand behind this bill. It is a solvable crisis and the fact that

:05:47. > :05:55.street homelessness has gone up since 2010, since the coalition and

:05:56. > :06:00.now the current Government, by over 130% is something which is should

:06:01. > :06:03.shame the Government. Whereas we are here to Pascual legislation, this

:06:04. > :06:10.does not get the Government off the hook in relation to that issue. Let

:06:11. > :06:20.me go back to new clause one before I come onto two and three. One small

:06:21. > :06:26.note of discord, which is... We could not avoid that, could we?! We

:06:27. > :06:31.don't want this to become a battle about who is more in favour of this

:06:32. > :06:36.bill, and I did note in the comments that the sponsor made this morning

:06:37. > :06:41.in his article that there may be a danger of the bill being delayed

:06:42. > :06:47.because of the new clauses that we have tabled. There are lots of

:06:48. > :06:53.confused pots and kettles out there, because the Government I notice have

:06:54. > :06:59.tabled 21 amendments today, quite complicated amendments, which I

:07:00. > :07:05.don't think anybody would wish to be seen taken at the report stage. If

:07:06. > :07:09.they were not able to be on the face of the bill then they should have

:07:10. > :07:11.been dealt with in committee. I'm hopeful nevertheless that we will be

:07:12. > :07:17.able to deal with those amendments but I think for the opposition to

:07:18. > :07:21.take one part of this time to debate some important principles of the

:07:22. > :07:24.bill is not unreasonable or irrational in any way. I noted that

:07:25. > :07:32.in the time we spent in committee, the members of the governing party

:07:33. > :07:44.spoke for 2.5 times the members of the opposition. I will in a moment,

:07:45. > :07:49.I will in a moment. We all have to sometimes curb our prolixity, even I

:07:50. > :07:53.have to do that from time to time, but we were very disciplined in

:07:54. > :07:58.committee. We withdrew a large number of new clauses and amendments

:07:59. > :08:05.before the Christmas break in order to speed the bill through. I think,

:08:06. > :08:10.notwithstanding that my colleagues on the bill have huge expertise in

:08:11. > :08:13.this matter and a lot to say, we were very disciplined about the way

:08:14. > :08:18.we conducted ourselves. I wish I could say the same for the

:08:19. > :08:21.opposition, front and back benches, including the honourable gentleman.

:08:22. > :08:24.I'm grateful for him for giving way. It was a pleasure to serve on the

:08:25. > :08:28.bill committee with him and I'm delighted to hear that he still is

:08:29. > :08:33.speaking in favour of this bill, that it still attracts cross-party

:08:34. > :08:37.support, and he can rely upon my discipline today, and I'm sure that

:08:38. > :08:43.all colleagues, to ensure this goes through. Excellent! Rousing words,

:08:44. > :08:46.and I'm sure they will be followed by action and that may be the last

:08:47. > :08:54.we hear from the honourable gentleman today, I don't know! The

:08:55. > :09:04.difficulty, I don't want to labour this point, I just said that we were

:09:05. > :09:08.hopeful, notwithstanding it is an important bill and quite a long bill

:09:09. > :09:11.for a Private Members Bill, considerably longer than a bill we

:09:12. > :09:18.are going to be debated next week, which I suspect will take rather

:09:19. > :09:22.more time! But nevertheless we should be able to get through it in

:09:23. > :09:25.less time, and it is rational, really, and we know why we are doing

:09:26. > :09:30.it, because the Government were filibustering in order to keep the

:09:31. > :09:44.honourable member for North West Durham's bill on boundaries out of

:09:45. > :09:45.who is delaying and not delaying not

:09:46. > :09:55.this bill, let's just get on with it now. Let me deal with this point on

:09:56. > :09:59.money. Right at the beginning of the process, the committee process, the

:10:00. > :10:03.Minister said, I will hope to tell you before the end of the committee

:10:04. > :10:08.process how much money there will be, because there was a commitment

:10:09. > :10:12.from the Government that they would fully fund the additional costs, and

:10:13. > :10:18.we know there are going to be substantial additional costs to

:10:19. > :10:22.local authorities under the new burdens, that money has to come from

:10:23. > :10:29.central Government, and we waited week by week with bated breath to

:10:30. > :10:36.see what that money would be. At the last moment on the bill, somebody

:10:37. > :10:42.came forward, and that is not a negligible sum of money, it is about

:10:43. > :10:48.?48 million spread over two years, but that ?48 million compares with

:10:49. > :10:54.estimates, I think sensible estimates, by both individual local

:10:55. > :10:58.authorities and by the collective body of local authorities, the local

:10:59. > :11:02.government Association and local councils -- London councils as to

:11:03. > :11:07.what the cost would be. One example, against the 37, 30 ?8 million

:11:08. > :11:13.prescribed for the first year of implementation of the bill, there is

:11:14. > :11:18.an estimate by London councils that it will cost about 160 million.

:11:19. > :11:22.There is a massive disparity in figures there. I think it is right

:11:23. > :11:26.to say that because we are in new territory with this bill, nobody

:11:27. > :11:33.really knows what the full cost is going to be, and so the solution

:11:34. > :11:38.that was lighted upon was, let's have a review at an early stage so

:11:39. > :11:42.we can see both whether the amounts that have been allocated to the bill

:11:43. > :11:48.in those two years are sufficient, and perhaps, more controversial,

:11:49. > :11:51.whether the Government's assertion that after two years there will be

:11:52. > :11:57.no need for additional funding because the bill will be self

:11:58. > :12:04.financing, whether that will prove to be true or not, because there is

:12:05. > :12:09.a huge scepticism, and I disagree with one other thing in the article,

:12:10. > :12:14.that there is no support for our new clauses. There is total support for

:12:15. > :12:19.our new clauses, there is an issue about timing and about making sure

:12:20. > :12:24.the bill completes its stages both here and in the other place, but the

:12:25. > :12:28.scepticism about the financing of this bill is shared not just by

:12:29. > :12:33.local government but by the charities who have supported the

:12:34. > :12:39.bill. And the crucial importance of this is not just that it is only

:12:40. > :12:44.fair and reasonable and right that local government is properly funded,

:12:45. > :12:47.because that is what the burdens doctrine says, but that if it does

:12:48. > :12:52.not work then the bill is not going to work, and it will simply be words

:12:53. > :12:59.on a piece of paper and we will not see that sea change in addressing

:13:00. > :13:04.homelessness and, in particular, extending duties of homelessness,

:13:05. > :13:08.both prevention and cure, to those in priority need to everybody, two

:13:09. > :13:09.single homeless people and to everybody who present themselves as

:13:10. > :13:22.homeless. If we are sincere What new clause 1 does, Madame

:13:23. > :13:28.Deputy Speaker t puts that review on the face of the bill. It simply

:13:29. > :13:33.says, after we have had time to see the implementation of the provisions

:13:34. > :13:37.of the bill, that we judge whether that money, and the Government says

:13:38. > :13:41.it is and everybody else says it isn't, sufficient for the purposes

:13:42. > :13:46.set out in the bill. The minister has raised one or two procedural

:13:47. > :13:50.points on this, as to when the provisions of the bill will take

:13:51. > :13:57.effect and when the appropriate time is to have that review. I'm open to

:13:58. > :14:03.debate on those matters, but on the principle -- and this is what I

:14:04. > :14:07.would hope to hear from the minister when he spokes - but on the

:14:08. > :14:11.principle we have a review t must be when reasonable time or money is

:14:12. > :14:17.still available to local authorities and it must be in particular cover,

:14:18. > :14:21.not just whether the bill is succeeding in purposes but whether

:14:22. > :14:27.the money is enough to cover all costs. I would think the minister

:14:28. > :14:31.would like to see that happen. They would not want their local authority

:14:32. > :14:34.to fail and where local authorities have seen cuts nor their budgets

:14:35. > :14:40.over the last few years, it is not just unfireworks but it is

:14:41. > :14:44.impossible for local authorities to cover the substantial costs

:14:45. > :14:50.themselves. -- unfair. The minister says that - or the only

:14:51. > :14:55.- apart from the clause 13 of this bill, the rest of the clauses,

:14:56. > :15:01.substantive clause of this bill will not actually take effect until

:15:02. > :15:05.regulations have taken effect. I appreciate that indeed it is an

:15:06. > :15:08.entirely reasonable thing to happen because there will be a substantial

:15:09. > :15:12.period of time to which local authorities have to gear up to these

:15:13. > :15:17.responsibilities. They will need to recruit staff, train staff, and put

:15:18. > :15:21.procedures in place and there will be - and often the devil will be in

:15:22. > :15:25.the details of the guidance produced. I think the minister can

:15:26. > :15:29.speak for himself but I think he is thinking it could be up for a year

:15:30. > :15:31.before we see the full implementation of that bill and

:15:32. > :15:40.clearly until we have implementation, we do not know what

:15:41. > :15:46.the costs are likely to be and it is a question of what is a reasonable

:15:47. > :15:52.period of time to see that. We think in claw clause 1 it is between one

:15:53. > :15:58.and two years. I would say, let's go to the end of that period, the end

:15:59. > :16:04.of the two-year period but let's make sure we are in a position tow

:16:05. > :16:08.end of the two-year period and the implementation, to see whether the

:16:09. > :16:11.money has been sufficient, because that's when the money runs out. And

:16:12. > :16:15.there is a slight disconnect between the money as announced in the

:16:16. > :16:18.written ministerial statement last week, which deals with the two

:16:19. > :16:23.financial years immediately coming up, that is to say, 2017-18, and

:16:24. > :16:27.2018-19 and what the minister is now saying, which is in fact

:16:28. > :16:36.theismentation is unlikely to happen until 2018. So either the Government

:16:37. > :16:39.is giving local authorities upfront front which would be slightly

:16:40. > :16:45.unusual in my experience or that needs to be corrected. In any event,

:16:46. > :16:50.two years' money that. Money may be two years' money that. Money may be

:16:51. > :16:54.insufficient and at the end of that two-year period the money runs out.

:16:55. > :16:58.. I give way. Can I tell my honourable friend that Newham

:16:59. > :17:03.Council has looked a at this and think it is going to cost them ?2.5

:17:04. > :17:06.million in the first year alone toisment this. I'm delighted this

:17:07. > :17:09.bill is going through, but does he honestly believe this Government is

:17:10. > :17:18.going to fully compensate the councils for the money they are

:17:19. > :17:23.going to need to expend? Well I'm one of nature's optimists, Madame

:17:24. > :17:28.Deputy Speaker. The minister is such a reasonable fellow and I know he is

:17:29. > :17:32.so kind-hearted I'm sure that he says he wishes to fully fund this.

:17:33. > :17:37.Unfortunately the Government's record as a whole is not being kind

:17:38. > :17:42.what theed, particularly to local Government and they do have a bit of

:17:43. > :17:46.a habit, which we see from the fact of all the cuts made across

:17:47. > :17:54.Government the biggest cuts are in local government, ie passing the

:17:55. > :17:56.buck to somebody else by cutting the local government budget and,

:17:57. > :18:00.therefore, my honourable friend is absolutely right to be sceptical

:18:01. > :18:15.about this and this is what we want it hear. But we could - there are

:18:16. > :18:20.many figures floating around. The Newham - Newham council know what

:18:21. > :18:25.they are talking B they have one of the most pressing needs for housing

:18:26. > :18:28.in the country. We have some of the poorest communities in the country

:18:29. > :18:30.and I'm afraid some of the worst housing, particularly in the private

:18:31. > :18:34.rented sector, so these are matters of real concern, but all we're

:18:35. > :18:37.asking for in this new clause or a commitment we hope to have from the

:18:38. > :18:40.minister today is not just that there will be a review but it will

:18:41. > :18:50.be at the right time and all-encompassing. In one moment I

:18:51. > :18:53.will give way to both. I mention I mention the role of the Select

:18:54. > :19:00.Committee. The Select Committee has been key, my honourable friend for

:19:01. > :19:07.Sheffield South East, as the Chair is an expert on this but he has help

:19:08. > :19:14.from abled members on both sides. So any process of review should also

:19:15. > :19:20.involve the Select Committee as well as local authorities themselves. On

:19:21. > :19:24.the issue of funding, the prevention duties, like you, Enfield also has

:19:25. > :19:34.the accommodation for poorest people, with the greatest need. We

:19:35. > :19:44.want obviously this bill but isn't it a reality that good councils are

:19:45. > :19:47.already embarking on prevention and doing what is in the bill and they

:19:48. > :19:51.are doing it under the coming settlement and they'll welcome they

:19:52. > :19:56.will have more money to do what they are already doing now. I think the

:19:57. > :19:59.best thing to say is it there is a mixed economy of local authorities.

:20:00. > :20:03.Some do very well. Some have to do very well because of the priors on

:20:04. > :20:07.them and some do less well and part of the purpose of this bill is to

:20:08. > :20:09.try to bring everyone up to the same standard. The honourable gentleman's

:20:10. > :20:11.point cuts both ways. If, for example, Camden Council already

:20:12. > :20:16.carries out prevention work, with 80% of people who present to them,

:20:17. > :20:20.if that's right, then the savings that are likely to be made, because

:20:21. > :20:26.most of the savings as I understand it are going to be by increasing

:20:27. > :20:29.prevention work, and therefore avoiding the need to find

:20:30. > :20:32.alternative accommodation or to in other ways fund the cost of

:20:33. > :20:37.homelessness, then those savings are going to be less. So that's the

:20:38. > :20:42.problem. The problem, will, after two years, as the Government hoped,

:20:43. > :20:46.there will be none need to fundk, I don't think anybody believes that,

:20:47. > :20:49.probably not the Government. I thank high honourable friend for giving

:20:50. > :20:54.away. It isn't just a probably in London, in Wirral there were over

:20:55. > :20:59.1,000 prevention and relief cases Wirral council taking action to

:21:00. > :21:04.prevent homelessness occurring, would the honourable member agree

:21:05. > :21:09.that any new duties councils have to take on should be fully funded both

:21:10. > :21:13.now and in the future. My honourable friend is right. This is not just a

:21:14. > :21:19.problem - it is clearly a greater problem in some areas than others

:21:20. > :21:24.and the resident for this -- precedent legislation is the

:21:25. > :21:27.legislation passed by the Labour-run Government of Wales which has be

:21:28. > :21:31.been successful and we are seeing substantial falls of homelessness in

:21:32. > :21:35.Wales. Of course there are areas in Wales in which there is a real

:21:36. > :21:42.crisis, as there are around the rest of the United Kingdom. But, there

:21:43. > :21:46.are also hotspots and the big cities and London, in particular, are

:21:47. > :21:49.hotspots and we cannot rely on the example of Wales, for example, to

:21:50. > :21:55.see that that is what would happen in England. It is still possible, in

:21:56. > :21:58.many Welsh authorities for accommodation to be made available,

:21:59. > :22:04.including to those who are not in priority need. In London Boroughs,

:22:05. > :22:10.and I suspect in my honourable friend's constituency and many

:22:11. > :22:15.others, that opportunity disappeared years ago and the reverse is true.

:22:16. > :22:19.We spent sometime in committee talking about the disgraceful

:22:20. > :22:23.attitude of Westminster Council who are sending their homelessness

:22:24. > :22:33.homelessness quite literally to Coventry and I'm afraid other

:22:34. > :22:36.boroughs are doing exactly the same. That's the issue we are grappling

:22:37. > :22:40.with, madam deputy speaker. I will not labour thep point. We want

:22:41. > :22:47.assurances which we believe that new clause 1 delivers. That what my

:22:48. > :22:51.honourable friend rightly says is actually delivered, that there is

:22:52. > :22:55.full funding of the provisions of this bill for local government. Yes

:22:56. > :23:00.the Government has made a start. Yes, I think we are going to hear

:23:01. > :23:03.more today about money, on the basis that some of the amendments the

:23:04. > :23:06.Government is putting forward will have additional costs. We are

:23:07. > :23:10.pleased with that so far but I say we must have that funding because

:23:11. > :23:16.otherwise this bill will fail and local authorities will be in an even

:23:17. > :23:28.more perilous state. Let me move on briefly, madam deputy speaker to new

:23:29. > :23:33.clauses 2 and 3. We couldn't table a great deal of

:23:34. > :23:36.extra new clauses such as this which illustrates what these new clauses

:23:37. > :23:40.do, because you cannot look at the provisions in this bill in a vacuum.

:23:41. > :23:44.We all welcome the great convery tracing, as the honourable gentleman

:23:45. > :23:50.said, on prevention and welcome the new duties on relief that are upon

:23:51. > :23:53.local authorities, in terms of assisting homeless people who are

:23:54. > :23:59.not in priority needs, into accommodation. But, the pattern of

:24:00. > :24:05.homelessness in this country is utterly bleak. And that is a perfect

:24:06. > :24:09.storm which I'm afraid has derived from the Government's own actions or

:24:10. > :24:14.inactions. The fist point, which is what is illustrated by new clauses 2

:24:15. > :24:19.and 3, is the crisis in the private rented sector. The huge inflation in

:24:20. > :24:25.rents that has occurred over the past few years, has meant that many

:24:26. > :24:32.private landlords take advantage of the no-fault eviction process under

:24:33. > :24:37.the 1988 Act, so simply say - you are on benefit and your benefit is

:24:38. > :24:42.not, I can get more rent somewhere else or simply, I think I want a

:24:43. > :24:46.different tenant, I don't have to give any reason for it, so off you

:24:47. > :24:50.go. And that swift process, without

:24:51. > :24:53.providing the papers are in order, without any argument to the

:24:54. > :24:55.contrary, means that many, many thousands of people are presenting

:24:56. > :25:01.themselves to local authorities civilly for that reason. I believe

:25:02. > :25:04.it is now more than 40% of homelessness homelessness cases are

:25:05. > :25:09.caused by private sector evictions and all the misery that that brings.

:25:10. > :25:13.Again, this is not an insoluable problem and what is in these two

:25:14. > :25:22.clauses would make a significant difference. This is a modest

:25:23. > :25:25.proposal. It suggests that if there were longer tenancies, three-year

:25:26. > :25:29.tenancies, and within the period of that tenancy, there were controls

:25:30. > :25:37.over the level of rent increase, we would not have that th chaotic

:25:38. > :25:43.market in -- not have that chaotic market.

:25:44. > :25:48.I will pass over the typo in line 4 of new clause 2 to say this, does he

:25:49. > :25:52.remember in the bill committee the average length of tenancies were in

:25:53. > :25:56.fact four years and in his new clause 2 he is merely referring to

:25:57. > :26:01.three years, does he not accept that there needs to be a billion to

:26:02. > :26:05.encourage sufficient landlords snore I'm not sure what the honourable

:26:06. > :26:15.member does when he is not passing over typos. His argument, I'm afraid

:26:16. > :26:21.works both ways. I think the point he is making,

:26:22. > :26:25.tenancies if they are longer than three years, what is the problem in

:26:26. > :26:29.ensuring that is the case? Again, good practice would suggest a good

:26:30. > :26:33.landlord wants to keep a tenant for a period of time. That gives

:26:34. > :26:37.stability, continuity, there are no breaks in tenancy or additional fees

:26:38. > :26:40.involved and that matter but not all landlords are good landlords and

:26:41. > :26:46.some landlords are playing this lottery game where they think they

:26:47. > :26:50.can get more money and we've even had local authorities outbidding

:26:51. > :26:55.each other for tenancies, so desperate are there for that. As I

:26:56. > :26:58.say, I think what the honourable gentleman illustrates is how modest

:26:59. > :27:03.this proposal is and how reasonable it is, and when the minister applies

:27:04. > :27:08.he may want to say what the Government' thinking is along these

:27:09. > :27:10.lines. It is an not just an issue about homelessness homelessness but

:27:11. > :27:15.these specific clauses relate to the issue of homelessness homelessness

:27:16. > :27:20.and they say that would you would achieve the purposes of this Bill,

:27:21. > :27:27.ie you would put less pressure on local authorities, you would have

:27:28. > :27:28.less than a need if some land Lords were not acting in the manner they

:27:29. > :27:39.are. That's the purpose of it. I appreciate given the time

:27:40. > :27:43.constraints, unless the Government suddenly decides to accept them this

:27:44. > :27:46.morning, we are unlikely to make progress on them in the course of

:27:47. > :27:52.this bill but this is something we will return to again and again until

:27:53. > :27:56.it is resolved. There is an extremely high rate of homelessness

:27:57. > :28:01.in tooting amongst those aged over 60. I know Wandsworth Council

:28:02. > :28:05.battles with this greatly Day in day out. Would you agree it is

:28:06. > :28:09.absolutely unacceptable but we are failing the older members of our

:28:10. > :28:14.society and people over 60 need to be taken into account? Would the

:28:15. > :28:17.honourable lady mind asking the honourable gentleman to agree,

:28:18. > :28:26.rather than asking the chair to agree? Would he agree, because she

:28:27. > :28:30.doesn't care whether I agree or not? Would my honourable friend agree

:28:31. > :28:35.that it is outrageous that residents aged 60 and over have to suffer in

:28:36. > :28:39.this way and that he must do all he can to ensure the Government

:28:40. > :28:44.addresses this issue. Absolutely, I know that you, Madam Deputy Speaker,

:28:45. > :28:48.also care about homelessness in tooting. What my honourable friend

:28:49. > :28:58.illustrates is that we are in new territory. I doubt 20 or 30 years

:28:59. > :29:01.ago there were big problems, that we would be talking about homelessness

:29:02. > :29:08.amongst people of pensionable age. It illustrates how deep this goes in

:29:09. > :29:16.society now that we are worried about not just the groups that were

:29:17. > :29:19.at risk in the days of Cathy Come Home but people who, at a time in

:29:20. > :29:22.their life when they deserve and should have security and stability

:29:23. > :29:31.in that way, and it illustrates that point. I am going to wind up now,

:29:32. > :29:35.let me just say this, yes, it new clauses two and three illustrate a

:29:36. > :29:39.clear point that is a part of the problem, alongside that is the issue

:29:40. > :29:41.of housing supply and the terrible record, I'm afraid, that this

:29:42. > :29:47.Government has on genuinely affordable housing, on allowing

:29:48. > :29:58.councils to build and ensure there is specialist housing... Could you

:29:59. > :30:02.not make it in your own comments? I thank the honourable gentleman for

:30:03. > :30:10.his forbearance in taking my intervention. Does he not welcome

:30:11. > :30:15.the record of ?3.15 billion that this Government is providing to the

:30:16. > :30:21.GLA to provide affordable housing in London, which has been welcomed by

:30:22. > :30:31.the London man? I welcome everything the London mayor welcomes! But I

:30:32. > :30:39.think, let's not go off on a tangent other than just to say we were

:30:40. > :30:42.beginning to make progress towards the end of the last Labour

:30:43. > :30:46.Government and the best illustration of that is that under the coalition

:30:47. > :30:50.Government eight out of ten council homes that were completed were

:30:51. > :30:54.started under the previous Labour Government, so I don't mind him

:30:55. > :30:58.taking credit, I don't mind him talking about additional building of

:30:59. > :31:03.affordable homes and social homes, but they need to have their own

:31:04. > :31:11.record, not to leech off hours. For the last time, I give way. I'm

:31:12. > :31:16.extremely grateful. The Institute of Housing have estimated a quarter of

:31:17. > :31:21.the million social homes will be lost as a result of right to buy and

:31:22. > :31:25.other measures between now and 2020, so whatever assurances are being

:31:26. > :31:28.given by the benches opposite, the construction of new housing is the

:31:29. > :31:34.equivalent of turning on the taps whilst leaving the plug out.

:31:35. > :31:40.Absolutely, and when I mentioned the quality of members on the committee

:31:41. > :31:46.on my side I was of course particularly referring to my

:31:47. > :31:51.honourable Friends on the committee. They put my feeble efforts to shame,

:31:52. > :31:55.but their writ is. Absolutely right, we have a crisis in housing supply,

:31:56. > :32:00.a crisis in the private rental sector, and we also have, which the

:32:01. > :32:04.Government is directly responsible for through the benefit caps,

:32:05. > :32:08.through freezing local housing, through cuts in supporting people,

:32:09. > :32:11.we have a manufactured crisis of homelessness which we are now seeing

:32:12. > :32:17.reflected in the figures I quoted earlier. I pay tribute to the

:32:18. > :32:21.Minister for the work done on this bill, as well as to the sponsor and

:32:22. > :32:24.the sincere comments made by Government backbenchers during the

:32:25. > :32:29.course of this bill, but they cannot put their heads in the sand and look

:32:30. > :32:33.at this bill in isolation from everything else that is happening.

:32:34. > :32:41.When they have looked at that, they have to change their policy. I'm

:32:42. > :32:43.sure we are going to get the white paper this year but when it comes we

:32:44. > :32:46.will be looking for those matters to be dealt with and that is the

:32:47. > :32:50.purpose of these new clauses, to make sure at this bill functions and

:32:51. > :32:53.to make sure Government policy as a whole functions in relation to

:32:54. > :32:57.homelessness, and that is why I would like to hear from the Minister

:32:58. > :33:02.is not warm support and acceptance of the clauses, at least what he

:33:03. > :33:08.intends to do in relation to them. The question is that new clause

:33:09. > :33:16.one... I beg your pardon, de Klerk will read it first. Duty to

:33:17. > :33:24.undertake a review of the Act. The question is that new clause one B

:33:25. > :33:29.read a second time. Mr Bob Blackman. Thank you, it is a pleasure to serve

:33:30. > :33:33.under you as always. It is also a pleasure to follow the honourable

:33:34. > :33:38.gentleman fat Hammersmith. Before I start, May I draw the House's

:33:39. > :33:44.attention to my entry in the register of members interests. I

:33:45. > :33:49.think we should get back to the fact that this bill is about reducing

:33:50. > :33:53.homelessness, and it is entitled to be Homelessness Reduction Bill. At

:33:54. > :33:57.some stages during the honourable member's rather link the speech, I

:33:58. > :34:01.began to wonder if we were moving off onto the whole policy of

:34:02. > :34:07.housing, and I think we should confine ourselves to this bill,

:34:08. > :34:12.rather than broadening out to the wider aspects. I accept absolutely

:34:13. > :34:16.that one person sleeping rough on our streets at any one time is a

:34:17. > :34:22.disgrace, a national disgrace. I have regularly gone on record, and

:34:23. > :34:26.equally that we do not know the exact level of homelessness in this

:34:27. > :34:32.country. So I start from that principle. And of course it is fair

:34:33. > :34:37.to say that the level of rough sleeping has increased. It is all to

:34:38. > :34:40.-- also fair to say that the level has increased of homelessness.

:34:41. > :34:45.However, as the honourable member will well know, the level of

:34:46. > :34:50.homelessness in this country peaked back in 2002three, I suspect someone

:34:51. > :34:56.else was actually in charge of Government at that time. And there

:34:57. > :35:00.was a reduction which took place as a result of both Government

:35:01. > :35:05.intervention and local authorities taking appropriate action, but

:35:06. > :35:10.actually no change in legislation. We should remember, Madam Deputy

:35:11. > :35:14.Speaker, that legislation on this subject has not changed effectively

:35:15. > :35:17.for 40 years, so we must get back to that particular issue. I would also

:35:18. > :35:21.draw attention, we will come onto more details about the bill

:35:22. > :35:25.hopefully when we get to third reading, but I would just a bench

:35:26. > :35:32.and gently that we spent some 15 hours in the committee debating the

:35:33. > :35:37.clauses, the 13 clauses in this bill, and there were opportunities

:35:38. > :35:40.for amendments, and the honourable member for Hammersmith did make

:35:41. > :35:46.amendments but then withdrew them before we could even debate them,

:35:47. > :35:49.and therefore the difference between the amendments that my honourable

:35:50. > :35:53.Friends the Minister is proposing later on and the proposals from the

:35:54. > :35:58.honourable member for Hammersmith are that the amendments from the

:35:59. > :36:02.Government's side are as a direct consequence of the debates and

:36:03. > :36:07.discussions we had in committee and are there to improve the bill and

:36:08. > :36:11.also to achieve what has happened in terms of discussions with housing

:36:12. > :36:15.charities, local government bodies, representative bodies, local

:36:16. > :36:18.government generally, and the landlord associations. So there is a

:36:19. > :36:22.marked difference between those amendments, and there are 21 of

:36:23. > :36:29.them, I accept, and the amendments being moved by the honourable member

:36:30. > :36:33.for Hammersmith. The key on new clause one, and for those of us that

:36:34. > :36:36.were members of the committee, and I commend my honourable Friends across

:36:37. > :36:40.the House for their service on the bill committee, when they were

:36:41. > :36:44.present at the last session they will be aware that the Government

:36:45. > :36:48.has already given a very firm commitment to review the bill at an

:36:49. > :36:54.appropriate point after implementation. I would suggest to

:36:55. > :36:57.my honourable friend the Minister for local government that it would

:36:58. > :37:02.be helpful if you repeat that commitment today and clarifies it

:37:03. > :37:08.further so that no one is in any doubt of the willingness of the

:37:09. > :37:14.Government to accept the fact that we have got funding, and I thank the

:37:15. > :37:21.Minister for the funding of 48 million over two years. We hope that

:37:22. > :37:26.that will lead to providing all the funding that local authorities need

:37:27. > :37:29.to carry out their duties under this new bill which hopefully will become

:37:30. > :37:35.an Act in the not too distant future. However, as I said at the

:37:36. > :37:38.beginning of my remarks, we do not know the level of demand that the

:37:39. > :37:45.local authorities will experience as a result of the new burdens that

:37:46. > :37:53.they face. What we do know is that many local authorities are already

:37:54. > :37:56.taking prevention duty already and that funding will be welcome to

:37:57. > :38:05.those authorities acting in a good and positive way. But the reality is

:38:06. > :38:08.that we could look at the stats from every local authority in terms of

:38:09. > :38:13.how many people are turning up for help but we also know that the vast

:38:14. > :38:17.majority of single homeless people will get turned away by their local

:38:18. > :38:21.authority without any help or advice. Now, because of the major

:38:22. > :38:26.change, the massive change not only in the law but the culture of local

:38:27. > :38:29.authorities, that the numbers of people are likely to increase

:38:30. > :38:35.especially during the first year... I will indeed give way. What we do

:38:36. > :38:41.know is that across the House and particularly the Government are

:38:42. > :38:45.committed wholeheartedly to fulfil what is within the terms of its

:38:46. > :38:51.responsibilities, which has included financial responsibilities. If

:38:52. > :38:54.beyond the spending round that we are in there are additional

:38:55. > :38:57.financial requirements to fulfil the duties in this bill, having taken

:38:58. > :39:00.account of savings, doesn't he recognise as I do that the

:39:01. > :39:08.responsibility of that wholehearted commitment will continue? I thank

:39:09. > :39:12.him for his intervention. Clearly we would expect, I think the whole

:39:13. > :39:16.house would expect, the Government to recognise that there would be

:39:17. > :39:19.potentially extra cost pressures on local authorities and, given the

:39:20. > :39:27.commitment made by the Government, that they will continue to fund that

:39:28. > :39:30.in the years to come. One of the problems of the amendments proposed

:39:31. > :39:33.by the honourable member for Hammersmith is it proposes a review

:39:34. > :39:38.after a fixed period of time, and that will be at. Frankly, I don't

:39:39. > :39:45.accept that is an acceptable way forward. I want the Government to

:39:46. > :39:49.continually keep this under review, and I'm sure that the communities

:39:50. > :39:52.and local of the select Committee and the rest of the committee, who

:39:53. > :39:57.are joint sponsors of this bill, will ensure that the Minister, or

:39:58. > :40:03.whoever is the Minister at the time, have their feet kept under fire in

:40:04. > :40:09.terms of... Long may he reign, of course! But he cannot commit his

:40:10. > :40:14.successor to the position as yet, but what we do know is that we, as a

:40:15. > :40:19.Select Committee, will keep this under review and will make sure that

:40:20. > :40:29.we scrutinise both the level of activity and the funding that

:40:30. > :40:33.follows. One of the key areas here, as the honourable member for

:40:34. > :40:37.Hammersmith pointed out, there is a whole range of different activities

:40:38. > :40:40.that are going to be going on by local authorities, and many of those

:40:41. > :40:47.will be such that there will be additional funds raised and actually

:40:48. > :40:54.costs reduced. One of the stats that we have looked at is that London

:40:55. > :40:59.councils will only say that in 2014-15 the total expenditure on

:41:00. > :41:06.temporary accommodation is some, was some 611 million. If we can reduce

:41:07. > :41:12.that figure just by 5% then we will pay for the costs of this bill. So

:41:13. > :41:16.that is one of the elements, because one of the problems about temporary

:41:17. > :41:19.accommodation which happens with local authorities is because they

:41:20. > :41:23.don't take prevention duty early enough yet then one of the problems

:41:24. > :41:27.that happens is that families and other people end up in temporary

:41:28. > :41:32.accommodation at the last minute in a crisis, which is very, very

:41:33. > :41:37.expensive. So if we can reduce that Bill marginally, and 5% is not a

:41:38. > :41:43.huge amount to seek to reduce, then we pay for the cost of the bill. If

:41:44. > :41:49.councils across the country achieve the prevention duty, we will prevent

:41:50. > :41:51.anyone from becoming homeless at all and therefore the cost reduction to

:41:52. > :42:01.local authorities will be enormous. I accept there will be a peak in the

:42:02. > :42:08.first year and I think we should all understand and appreciate that. The

:42:09. > :42:11.Bill committee and select committee spent a considerable time discussing

:42:12. > :42:13.how much time it would take for councils to prepare for the extra

:42:14. > :42:20.duties the bill will require. Obviously they are going to need to

:42:21. > :42:25.recruit and train staff, and change absolutely the culture that exists

:42:26. > :42:31.within housing departments. So because of that, the bill is drafted

:42:32. > :42:40.to allow the substantive clauses to commenced only once the preparations

:42:41. > :42:44.have been completed. It seems to me that the new clauses drafted by the

:42:45. > :42:47.honourable member for Hammersmith, could therefore put this commitment

:42:48. > :42:52.to review the act before we have the data and before some of the clauses

:42:53. > :42:55.have actually even commenced. I'm sure that's not what the honourable

:42:56. > :43:02.member intended but I would urge him on that basis to reconsider his

:43:03. > :43:05.amendment. I trust we are going to get a commitment from the minister

:43:06. > :43:10.on reviews. I'm sure we will hold him to account and clarify that if

:43:11. > :43:22.we don't get that amount of commitment, but I'm sure we will get

:43:23. > :43:29.that later this morning. On new clauses 2 and 3 I must commend the

:43:30. > :43:42.honourable member for his ingenuity in getting them in the scope of this

:43:43. > :43:45.bill. But since they relate to the private rental sector and not

:43:46. > :43:52.homelessness duty, I welcome the detail. But what I will say, is we

:43:53. > :43:58.intervene in markets at our peril. Often we get be unintended

:43:59. > :44:05.consequences. Can I draw the house's attention tension to some of the

:44:06. > :44:09.problems going on right now. I'm a great supporter of longer tenancies

:44:10. > :44:12.and think it has been regularly campaigned for and I would stress it

:44:13. > :44:24.needs to happen. One of the problems in the market is that mortgage

:44:25. > :44:28.lenders are very reluctant, indeed, to offer mortgages to landlords who

:44:29. > :44:32.have having tennants that are longer than six-month ten an si.s I

:44:33. > :44:36.understand recently a number of mortgage lenders have relaxed their

:44:37. > :44:41.rules to allow for 12-month tenancies which is a very welcome

:44:42. > :44:45.move and I would suggest, in the longer term, with the CLG select

:44:46. > :44:49.committee we will be looking at that and looking to encourage that

:44:50. > :45:00.process but, to implement such a decision in this bill, would run the

:45:01. > :45:02.risk of actually reducing the supply of private selected accommodation

:45:03. > :45:07.and putting up the rents of the people we are trying to help, so

:45:08. > :45:09.this amendment today in my view is counter-productive. There is the

:45:10. > :45:21.issue that mortgage lenders right now are insisting on between a 25%

:45:22. > :45:25.or a 40% deposit for landlords and then insisting that the rent level

:45:26. > :45:29.is 1.4 times the mortgage payment going out. The reality of that is

:45:30. > :45:32.landlords are forcing up rents and the lenders are forcing up rents to

:45:33. > :45:42.private sector landlords. That does not make sense. I think that's

:45:43. > :45:45.something where Government policy is going to have to intervene. I also

:45:46. > :45:49.think the issue of rent controls have been tried and failed. The

:45:50. > :45:55.reality is that if you try and impose rent controls, what happens

:45:56. > :46:00.is that rents are forced up to start with artificially. The market is

:46:01. > :46:04.over-burdened with red tape and actually, the supply of rent rented

:46:05. > :46:08.housing goes down. So, the scone sequence of that is we will actually

:46:09. > :46:17.contribute to more homelessness than actually reducing it. So, for those

:46:18. > :46:22.reasons,eddes Madame Deputy Speaker, where we woop end up creating more

:46:23. > :46:28.homelessness than we've involved I would urge the honourable member to

:46:29. > :46:31.withdraw his amendments, clearly a matter of policy, clearly that needs

:46:32. > :46:36.to be debated and discussed. I would concur with him on the one aspect I

:46:37. > :46:41.have been very clear on from the beginning. My bill, once it becomes

:46:42. > :46:44.law, will not actually increase the supply of housing, the number of

:46:45. > :46:48.units in this country. That is a matter for Government policy. I

:46:49. > :46:57.think that's an area where we need to achieve that. What it will do, is

:46:58. > :46:59.make sure that the experience of those people that are homeless,

:47:00. > :47:03.particularly those who are homeless for the first time is such that they

:47:04. > :47:06.get the help and advice and I'm very concerned that the amendments as

:47:07. > :47:10.proposed by the honourable member would reduce the supply and make

:47:11. > :47:16.the, would actually penalise the very people that we are so helping.

:47:17. > :47:20.So, on those basis, Madame Deputy Speaker, I will look forward to the

:47:21. > :47:28.minister spopding and also invite the honourable member to withdraw

:47:29. > :47:35.his amendment. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, I rise to support

:47:36. > :47:39.new clause 1. As this is my first intervention on this important bill,

:47:40. > :47:41.it gives me an opportunity to congratulate the honourable member

:47:42. > :47:49.for Harrow East in bringing it forward. I think he has done so with

:47:50. > :47:54.great persuasion, and has really performed an important service on

:47:55. > :47:57.behalf of us all and indeed congratedlations to both

:47:58. > :48:04.frontbenches for working constructively to bring the bill to

:48:05. > :48:08.this particular point. I support the bill, Madame Deputy Speaker but as

:48:09. > :48:12.good as it goes, we will be kidding ourselves today if we will leave

:48:13. > :48:16.this House, pat ourselves on the back and believe we have done

:48:17. > :48:20.everything this House could do to tackle what is an unfolding

:48:21. > :48:25.emergency before our eyes. The reason I have chosen to come to

:48:26. > :48:35.speak in this debate today is to reflect the rising concern amongst

:48:36. > :48:41.my constituents in Leigh but a concern that is widely shared across

:48:42. > :48:45.Greater Manchester that there are visibly increasing numbers of people

:48:46. > :48:49.huddled in door way across our city region and people will not just walk

:48:50. > :48:54.on bi. They do not accept it has to be like this. Homelessness and rough

:48:55. > :48:59.sleeping is not an inevitable fact of life in 2017. We are wealthy

:49:00. > :49:03.enough as a society to ensure that nobody should spend the night

:49:04. > :49:11.without a roof over their head. And there needs to be a new urgency on

:49:12. > :49:17.both sides of the House in bringing forward appropriate action to

:49:18. > :49:22.address it. And that's the problem f there is with this bill, it is good

:49:23. > :49:26.as far as it goes but in my view doesn't go anywhere near enough to

:49:27. > :49:35.tackle the scale of the problem. And actually, it doesn't go cross the

:49:36. > :49:39.mental response needed. A reality check, figures came out this week,

:49:40. > :49:43.the minister will be aware of them, that shows a 16% rise in rough

:49:44. > :49:48.sleeping over the last year. My honourable member in his opening

:49:49. > :49:53.remarks made reference to that. In the last five or six years, since

:49:54. > :49:58.2010, rough sleeping across England has doubled. It is going up at an

:49:59. > :50:02.alarming rate. In Greater Manchester, the problem is even

:50:03. > :50:08.worse. Across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, there has been a

:50:09. > :50:16.41% increase in rough sleeping in the last year. I would say to the

:50:17. > :50:20.minister, those figures, according to local officials, don't actually

:50:21. > :50:23.reflect the full picture. They believe that tonight at least 300

:50:24. > :50:27.people across Greater Manchester will be out on streets spending the

:50:28. > :50:30.night there. Now that is simply unacceptable. And I don't hear from

:50:31. > :50:37.the Government what they are doing about that. What are they doing

:50:38. > :50:40.about that now to help people find warmth and help them find shelter?

:50:41. > :50:44.As I say rough sleeping has doubled but this bill won't reverse that and

:50:45. > :50:54.we need to have our eyes open to that. And that's why I support new

:50:55. > :50:58.clause 1. Because it is absolutely crucial that there is urgency in

:50:59. > :51:03.this debate and a clear commitment to review what is happening. Not a -

:51:04. > :51:09.I take the honourable gentleman's point - but, a committee to review

:51:10. > :51:12.from a minister at the Despatch Box, we all know that timetables shift,

:51:13. > :51:15.the Civil Service will say - we'll review it in the autumn. That

:51:16. > :51:18.becomes the winter and that becomes the spring much that's what happens

:51:19. > :51:21.we all know that. It is not good enough. This problem is bigger than

:51:22. > :51:25.that. We need clarity and certainty. There should be a commitment to a

:51:26. > :51:30.review of how this legislation is working, both in whether it is

:51:31. > :51:34.reducing homelessness, as the clause says, but, also, whether or not the

:51:35. > :51:39.funding that the Government has given to councils is adequate. For

:51:40. > :51:42.the reasons given by my friend, the honourable member for West Ham a

:51:43. > :51:47.moment ago, I don't believe the funding is adequate. Here is how I

:51:48. > :51:51.would differ slightly with my own front bench. I would say that this

:51:52. > :51:55.review should take place within one year. There needs to be more

:51:56. > :52:00.urgency. I believe that annual review would reveal - firstly, that

:52:01. > :52:03.while I expect this bill to have a modest but welcome impact on

:52:04. > :52:06.reducing homelessness, I don't believe it'll go anywhere near

:52:07. > :52:10.addressing the scale of the problem and secondly, I think that review

:52:11. > :52:17.will also reveal that the council funding that the Government has

:52:18. > :52:21.allocated is inadequate. Let us remember, most funding comes next

:52:22. > :52:25.year. It then reduces sharply in the year after that, then in the third

:52:26. > :52:31.year there is nothing at all. I don't want to wait to the third year

:52:32. > :52:35.to find out whether or not this is working, I think it should be

:52:36. > :52:40.conducted immediately, Madame Deputy Speaker and within 12 months. But we

:52:41. > :52:44.need to hear much more grft. If they want it tackle homelessness -- from

:52:45. > :52:47.the Government. If they won't at that tackle homelessness and rough

:52:48. > :52:52.speaking there needs to be a cross-government response. We

:52:53. > :52:56.established in a rough sleepers department, when West Africa in

:52:57. > :53:01.Government. I don't see that level of cross-Government working on this

:53:02. > :53:04.important issue. But secondly as well as having -- department when in

:53:05. > :53:07.Government. But secondly, there should be a

:53:08. > :53:11.clear ambition. What is the Government's am billings on rough

:53:12. > :53:15.sleeping? I'm in the aware of it. It is going up at an alarming rate.

:53:16. > :53:20.What are they going to do about it? Will they put it into reverse? Will

:53:21. > :53:24.they have made the same commitment I have made in Greater Manchester, by

:53:25. > :53:28.2020 we should work to eradicate rough sleeping. It it is all very

:53:29. > :53:32.well the minister looking the other way, and turning around and talking

:53:33. > :53:35.to his colleagues. What is he going to do about rough sleeping now and

:53:36. > :53:42.in the next few years? What zbft's ambition? -- what is the

:53:43. > :53:46.Government's ambition? Are they committed to eradicating the

:53:47. > :53:52.increase and go further and eradicate. I don't want to inject a

:53:53. > :53:55.partisan note but I am I'm afraid we are doing nobody any favours if we

:53:56. > :53:58.sit here today and think this is enough this. Bill won't reverse the

:53:59. > :54:03.cuts to housing benefit that are looming. I will give way. I'm

:54:04. > :54:08.grateful to the honourable gentleman for giving way. He accepted himself,

:54:09. > :54:12.he wasn't in the bill committee or he wasn't here at contributing at

:54:13. > :54:14.second reading. Had he had been he would have seen the cross-party

:54:15. > :54:18.nature of the bill committee and the proceedings to date. The points he

:54:19. > :54:23.is making whilst I'm sure are relevant to new clauses 1, 2 and 3,

:54:24. > :54:27.perhaps don't quite to the point and don't attract the same cross-party

:54:28. > :54:31.support that has been the nature of this bill to date.

:54:32. > :54:36.Well, I hear what the honourable gentleman has said and I have given

:54:37. > :54:37.my support to this bill, so there is cross-party support, he has my

:54:38. > :54:42.support, the honourable gentleman has my support. Government has my

:54:43. > :54:46.entitled to come here today to speak entitled to come here today to speak

:54:47. > :54:51.for those people who will be on the streets of his constituency tonight,

:54:52. > :54:54.who I know will be on the streets of Greater Manchester tonight. I think

:54:55. > :54:58.I'm entitled to come here today to give them a voice in this house.

:54:59. > :55:02.This bill isn't going to change their situation any time soon. I

:55:03. > :55:07.don't believe it is going to reduce rough sleeping any time soon. So who

:55:08. > :55:11.is speaking for them? It is not acceptable for this house to be

:55:12. > :55:16.debating homelessness and do it in a cosy way without facing the reality.

:55:17. > :55:21.That is the reality, rough sleeping is rising at an alarming mate rate.

:55:22. > :55:26.I ask the minister what he is doing about this. I this this House and

:55:27. > :55:31.more importantly those people out on streets, deserve an answer? I am

:55:32. > :55:34.grateful. Can I ask him to take little regard for comments of the

:55:35. > :55:38.member opposite because it is correct that in terms of the

:55:39. > :55:43.provisions and culture underpinning this bill, there was and is a cross

:55:44. > :55:46.of had party consensus we want to see ittismented. During the

:55:47. > :55:51.committee stage of the bill and at second reading, virtually all the

:55:52. > :55:54.direction comments from our side have been the wider con#23r

:55:55. > :55:58.universal credits, and housing cuts and housing supply, the context in

:55:59. > :56:00.which homelessness and rough sleeping exists is going this

:56:01. > :56:04.reverse and it is right we should be drawing attention to that. I'm

:56:05. > :56:09.gritful to my honourable friend. I believe she's absolutely right. This

:56:10. > :56:13.bill solely focuses on the duties of local authorities. And we've got to

:56:14. > :56:17.remember that those local authorities are operating in the

:56:18. > :56:21.context, at the moment, of massive cuts to their budgets. So, we need

:56:22. > :56:26.to be honest with ourselves about whether or not they are going to be

:56:27. > :56:32.able to rise to the extra pressures that this bill places upon them. But

:56:33. > :56:36.as my you honourable friend says, thisably do nothing to reduce the

:56:37. > :56:40.cuts to housing benefit coming down the line and many experts believe

:56:41. > :56:45.will make homelessness and rough sleeping worse. This bill does

:56:46. > :56:49.nothing to reverse cuts to mental health services that is pushing more

:56:50. > :56:54.people out on to the streets and it does nothing to reverse the cuts to

:56:55. > :56:57.social care which is having the same effect or does nothing to build nor

:56:58. > :57:02.affordable social housing I'm sorry if it injects a note the minister

:57:03. > :57:05.doesn't like, but tough, he needs to hear that. He needs a better

:57:06. > :57:09.response that this bill. If he thinks this is t it is not good

:57:10. > :57:10.enough. This bill is a step in the right direction but that, I'm afraid

:57:11. > :57:20.is all that it is. In greater Manchester, we are

:57:21. > :57:24.committing ourselves, between ourselves and our councils, to try

:57:25. > :57:28.to end rough sleeping. If we can do that at our level, the Government

:57:29. > :57:31.should at least do something at their level. Madam Deputy Speaker,

:57:32. > :57:40.in rising to support... I will give way. I am grateful. I am reading the

:57:41. > :57:43.briefing note from Crisis, the housing charity, and I am quoting

:57:44. > :57:48.directly, whilst we understand the intention behind these amendments,

:57:49. > :57:52.we are very worried that there would be further amendments in the House

:57:53. > :57:56.of Lords leading to ping-pong between the two houses. This could

:57:57. > :57:59.result in the bill failing to receive Royal assent before the end

:58:00. > :58:01.of the Parliamentary session, thus of the Parliamentary session, thus

:58:02. > :58:05.killing the bill. My reading of this is that Crisis

:58:06. > :58:10.would like the bill to go through without these new amendments. Does

:58:11. > :58:13.he have maybe B1 that? I have also read the note from Crisis and I

:58:14. > :58:17.think she will see that they don't believe the funding allocated to the

:58:18. > :58:20.bill is adequate to meet the obligations that are being faced on

:58:21. > :58:23.local authorities, nor do they believe that it will do anything to

:58:24. > :58:29.address those wider issues around housing benefit however, I accept

:58:30. > :58:33.the point that the honourable lady has just made. I have not come here

:58:34. > :58:37.today to do anything to disrupt the passage of this bill, I think it

:58:38. > :58:40.would help everybody to have a commitment to review bit, on the

:58:41. > :58:44.face of it, so we all know where we stand and there is a degree of

:58:45. > :58:52.urgency about how this House is addressing this issue. I hear what

:58:53. > :58:56.the honourable gentleman says and I'm slightly disappointed by his

:58:57. > :59:01.approach today in relation to the time that he's taking in relation to

:59:02. > :59:06.the important report stage of this bill. It is as shame he did not come

:59:07. > :59:10.and make the point he is making at second reading. That said, he asked

:59:11. > :59:14.me the serious question of what this Government is doing to help with the

:59:15. > :59:19.important issue of rough sleeping in Manchester, and I would just like to

:59:20. > :59:26.say to him that we have already announced over ?600,000 for a social

:59:27. > :59:29.impact plan in Greater Manchester to support entrenched rough sleepers

:59:30. > :59:34.that have the most complex needs. Does he not welcome that work that

:59:35. > :59:38.is going to be done by Government and with the Greater Manchester

:59:39. > :59:42.authority? Every single thing he does to address this problem, I will

:59:43. > :59:47.welcome, and I welcome that funding, but I do not welcome the alarming

:59:48. > :59:50.rise in rough sleeping on the streets of Greater Manchester, and

:59:51. > :59:54.I'm sorry if it is inconvenient to the Minister to hear this but I'm

:59:55. > :00:00.absolutely clear that it is right to put those concerns to him. I wasn't

:00:01. > :00:06.going to say another word because I want the bill to go well, but I'm

:00:07. > :00:08.amazed by the chutzpah of the honourable member opposite moaning

:00:09. > :00:14.about an excellent speech, relevant and pertinent to the point, on this

:00:15. > :00:19.bill, given that people on the other side of this House, week after week

:00:20. > :00:22.after week after week, talk out excellent bills! If the honourable

:00:23. > :00:27.Minister doesn't mind, I would like to listen to what my honourable

:00:28. > :00:29.friend has to say because it is pertinent, unlike the dribble

:00:30. > :00:36.normally mentioned on the other side of the House week after week after

:00:37. > :00:42.week. I am grateful. The Minister mentions time. If the Government was

:00:43. > :00:45.making this a priority maybe the Government would be making time to

:00:46. > :00:50.debate these issues, maybe it would bring forward its own legislature,

:00:51. > :00:54.as a result of Private Members Bill. as a result of Private Members Bill.

:00:55. > :00:58.I will welcome anything he does to address this issue but I am not

:00:59. > :01:01.accepting that there is just a cosy cross-party debate today when the

:01:02. > :01:06.number of the people sleeping rough on our streets is increasing every

:01:07. > :01:09.single week. It is a bigger issue, I'm afraid, than just patting

:01:10. > :01:14.ourselves on the back. More needs to be done, the Government needs to set

:01:15. > :01:18.out today its ambition to cut Rob sleeping in the next few years, that

:01:19. > :01:22.is why I am here today. I support this bill fully but let's be honest

:01:23. > :01:30.about what it is, a modest first step.

:01:31. > :01:37.I'm interested to follow the honourable gentleman for the,

:01:38. > :01:44.because if I didn't know that he represented Leigh, I would think he

:01:45. > :01:49.was representing some position in Manchester! I would also like to

:01:50. > :01:52.commend my friend from Harrow East for the affected way he has brought

:01:53. > :01:57.forward this debate and also for introducing such a sympathetic bill

:01:58. > :02:02.on a compelling subject. One would hope every debate in this place is

:02:03. > :02:06.worthwhile, but few issues could be more significant than the

:02:07. > :02:09.legislation we are debating today. A bill which endeavours to make sure

:02:10. > :02:13.no one has to endure sleeping rough on the streets of England, that no

:02:14. > :02:24.one has to face the frightening prospect of a lack of a roof over

:02:25. > :02:27.their head if no-one can put them up, and that no one has to be

:02:28. > :02:28.subjected to the appalling mental and physical degradation that

:02:29. > :02:31.accompanies homelessness. It is important to note that homelessness

:02:32. > :02:35.is not the same as Rob sleeping, which I think the honourable

:02:36. > :02:38.gentleman opposite perhaps misunderstood -- rough sleeping. But

:02:39. > :02:42.we must not dismiss the plight of those who, whilst they may not be

:02:43. > :02:47.sleeping on the street itself, are plagued by anxiety because of that

:02:48. > :02:52.very real possibility. Britain is a developed nation with a strong

:02:53. > :02:55.economy and I would be so bold as to say I speak for everyone in this

:02:56. > :03:00.place when I say it is shameful that so many people in our country are

:03:01. > :03:07.homeless and that we must do all we can to help them. Seeing somebody

:03:08. > :03:10.sleeping on the street is of course and agonising thing for us to

:03:11. > :03:15.witness but is more concerning at this time of year when freezing

:03:16. > :03:20.weather comes, as we have two face even here in London this week. A

:03:21. > :03:26.night out on the street becomes even more unbearable than it does as the

:03:27. > :03:29.best of times. It is not possible to scrutinise this bill effectively

:03:30. > :03:34.without understanding the complex nature of homelessness and just how

:03:35. > :03:37.extensive the problem is across this country. Quantifying homelessness is

:03:38. > :03:42.in itself an extremely difficult task. The way in which it is

:03:43. > :03:47.recorded berries and even if a unanimous method were agreed and

:03:48. > :03:51.employed, but numbers might still be underestimated as many people often

:03:52. > :03:58.sleep out of sight and moving from place to place. Indeed because of

:03:59. > :04:02.the appalling physical abuse which rough sleepers and in particular

:04:03. > :04:08.women are subject to, many try to actively leave places where they

:04:09. > :04:13.could be spotted. Despite that difficulty, Government statistics

:04:14. > :04:18.show 4134 people slept rough on any one night across England in 2016.

:04:19. > :04:25.Shockingly that is over double the number recorded in 2010. In London

:04:26. > :04:31.alone local agencies report 8096 people slept rough throughout 2050

:04:32. > :04:38.e-16, a 6% rise on the previous year. -- throughout 2015-16. The

:04:39. > :04:45.rise is shocking since 2010. Does she think I Government is doing

:04:46. > :04:52.enough to tackle rough sleeping? I thank the right honourable

:04:53. > :04:56.gentleman. I think this Government is trying to tackle it, it is a

:04:57. > :05:00.difficult subject, not an easy subject to deal with, and I do think

:05:01. > :05:04.this Government is tackling it, and by allowing this bill to go through

:05:05. > :05:11.I think it shows that they are taking it seriously. I am grateful.

:05:12. > :05:14.One of the issues that both sides of the House need to be aware of is

:05:15. > :05:18.that many of these people sleeping rough, even if they present to local

:05:19. > :05:21.authorities, they will find local authorities do not currently have

:05:22. > :05:25.the powers to help these people. It is not a question of money. Will my

:05:26. > :05:27.honourable friend agree that the powers being proposed in this bill

:05:28. > :05:32.will give them the power to intervene. I am pleased my

:05:33. > :05:38.honourable friend makes that point because I can illustrate it very

:05:39. > :05:42.clearly. Referring to a cave I had over Christmas, I had to ring the

:05:43. > :05:48.helpline over Christmas for a family whose house had burnt down, it was

:05:49. > :05:52.rented, they had four children, and the only thing the local authority,

:05:53. > :05:56.Derbyshire County Council, were interested, not the fact they were

:05:57. > :05:59.homeless and would have to come back from their family after Christmas to

:06:00. > :06:03.homelessness so that they could continue with their jobs and get

:06:04. > :06:08.their children back into school, was, were the children vulnerable?

:06:09. > :06:12.Were they being abused? They were not interested in the homelessness,

:06:13. > :06:18.said this is a clear example where the local authorities really were

:06:19. > :06:23.not interested, even when I phoned in Christmas Day and several days

:06:24. > :06:26.after that, we could not get Derbyshire County Council to put

:06:27. > :06:30.anything in place for these people because their view was, well, they

:06:31. > :06:34.are not homeless, they are staying with friends in Bournemouth, or

:06:35. > :06:37.wherever it was, not that they had to come back to get their children

:06:38. > :06:45.back into school and get their jobs back. I think there are problems at

:06:46. > :06:49.the moment. As I was saying, homelessness is getting worse and as

:06:50. > :06:53.such this bill could not come at a more necessary time. Breaking the

:06:54. > :06:58.numbers down, several groups are at particular risk. In England, women

:06:59. > :07:04.make up 26% of users of homelessness services but as a group they are

:07:05. > :07:07.often much more vulnerable. There are high levels of vulnerability

:07:08. > :07:13.within the female homeless population, mental ill health, drug

:07:14. > :07:16.and alcohol dependency, experience of sexual abuse and other traumatic

:07:17. > :07:24.life experiences are all commonplace. Interviews with

:07:25. > :07:27.homeless women conducted by the fantastic homelessness alleviation

:07:28. > :07:35.charity-macro two, which was quoted a few moments ago... Does the

:07:36. > :07:40.honourable lady agree with me that organisations like Crisis backing

:07:41. > :07:46.this bill shows the Government and my honourable friend has got it

:07:47. > :07:51.right? Yes, I would agree with my honourable friend. The Government is

:07:52. > :07:58.getting it right, it is acting, doing things for the benefit of

:07:59. > :08:05.homeless people in this country. Did somebody else say something? Sorry.

:08:06. > :08:09.As I said, Crisis show over 20% became homeless to escape violence

:08:10. > :08:15.from someone they knew, 70% fleeing violence from a partner. I think

:08:16. > :08:19.this shows that this Government needs this cross-party support which

:08:20. > :08:24.it is getting, or was getting but it seems perhaps not as strongly as it

:08:25. > :08:28.was, and that we do need to move forward for this bill to go through

:08:29. > :08:43.and to go through successfully to the next stage so that it can become

:08:44. > :08:46.law. I rise to speak specifically on new clause two and three in the name

:08:47. > :08:50.of the honourable member for Hammersmith. The new clauses I'm

:08:51. > :08:54.sure our well-intentioned and new clause two 60 of tenants assurance

:08:55. > :09:01.on the length of their tenure and new clause 36 to give assurances on

:09:02. > :09:04.rent increases, but I am concerned that rather than help vulnerable

:09:05. > :09:08.people they will hinder some of the work of this bill as it stands. We

:09:09. > :09:12.know private landlords are increasingly reluctant to accept

:09:13. > :09:16.benefit claimants. This is certainly the experience at Portsmouth City

:09:17. > :09:19.Council. The bill makes efforts to change this, new clause two and

:09:20. > :09:29.three would frustrate this. Tenants are currently encouraged to remain

:09:30. > :09:33.until evicted so that they cannot be termed as homeless. This is a

:09:34. > :09:37.disincentive for landlords to take on cases from local authorities

:09:38. > :09:44.especially under new clause two which would lock landlords into and

:09:45. > :09:49.unbreakable three-year period if the outcome of giving notice was to make

:09:50. > :09:56.the tenant homeless. Dishy agree with me that's the reality is you

:09:57. > :10:01.are only allowed 50% on mortgage providers for buy to let on

:10:02. > :10:04.tenancies of over one year, which will cause more problems than it

:10:05. > :10:10.will fix? That has been discussed earlier today and mortgage lenders

:10:11. > :10:16.could extend even further, even to three years or beyond, because we do

:10:17. > :10:19.want long-term tenancies. But at the moment, under clause two, it would

:10:20. > :10:24.mean landlords are reluctant to take on anyone who could beat authority

:10:25. > :10:31.help, most of which would be vulnerable people in receipt of

:10:32. > :10:34.benefits or on low incomes. A report from the landlords Association has

:10:35. > :10:38.stressed that landlords do not usually evict responsible tenants,

:10:39. > :10:42.nor do they not want to risk finding bad replacement and the costs of

:10:43. > :10:47.addiction, nor do they want their house to be tied. What if they

:10:48. > :10:53.wanted to sell the property or rented themselves? No provision is

:10:54. > :10:56.made for that in clause two. As a result new clause two could propose

:10:57. > :11:02.a strong disincentive for landlords to take on any tenant who might call

:11:03. > :11:05.on the local authorities. New clause three, which seeks to cut rent

:11:06. > :11:10.increases, would have a similar effect. As I have said, landlords do

:11:11. > :11:13.not want to give notice unnecessarily and the recent

:11:14. > :11:18.National Audit Office report this month shows private landlords are

:11:19. > :11:23.not profiteering. Since 2001-2002, social housing rents have increased

:11:24. > :11:26.faster than earnings. By contrast in all regions outside London medium

:11:27. > :11:32.full-time weekly earnings have risen more than private rental prices, or

:11:33. > :11:43.within one or two percent since 2006. New

:11:44. > :11:47.clause three would allow provision to be made for London homes only by

:11:48. > :11:49.setting a The Lovecats. The motivation for this presumably is

:11:50. > :11:52.because in London rents have gone up by 32%, twice as much as earnings.

:11:53. > :11:54.This would be a greater disincentive for landlords in London to take

:11:55. > :11:57.tenants in receipt of housing benefit. The honourable gentleman

:11:58. > :12:06.seeks to cap Private rent increase at CBI, get CPI would almost always

:12:07. > :12:11.be lower than the RPI plus 0.5% cap that the last Labour Government felt

:12:12. > :12:13.reasonable for housing association said the combination of fixed

:12:14. > :12:16.three-year tenancies and the inability to determine their own

:12:17. > :12:21.rent means landlords will either refuse to take on social tenants or

:12:22. > :12:26.be obliged to give notice to get more rent increases. As it stands,

:12:27. > :12:30.the bill seeks to work with landlords to ease the burdens on

:12:31. > :12:34.tenants and local authorities. So new clause two and three, despite

:12:35. > :12:43.Is a I will be brief. I recognise we work and I hope they

:12:44. > :12:47.Is a I will be brief. I recognise we want to get to the final stages of

:12:48. > :12:52.this excellent bill by the end of this morning. In terms of the wider

:12:53. > :12:55.issue, of course this bill is only a partial solution and the committee's

:12:56. > :12:59.report on homelessness drew attention to the wider issues that

:13:00. > :13:03.need addressing. We need to build more homes in this country. We

:13:04. > :13:08.particularly need to build more affordable homes and more affordable

:13:09. > :13:11.homes to rent. Indeed the committee, specifically recognised that housing

:13:12. > :13:16.needs vary why in different parts of the country. There are different

:13:17. > :13:19.housing markets and that needs a different response, particularly in

:13:20. > :13:23.response of tenure mix. We look forward to the housing white paper

:13:24. > :13:27.which we understand is coming soon. We hope soon is before the end of

:13:28. > :13:31.February when ministers will be coming before the committee in

:13:32. > :13:34.response to our inquiry into the capacity of the house building

:13:35. > :13:37.industry when we can pursue some of these points further about the

:13:38. > :13:45.ability to provide the homes that are needed. Particularly from my

:13:46. > :13:48.point of view, I hope that we do see and the Housing Minister seems to be

:13:49. > :13:54.indicating this, a move away from the idea that starting homes and

:13:55. > :14:02.shared ownership can help the housing needs. Hopley we can move in

:14:03. > :14:05.that direction. Lots has been said about longer term tenancies. In the

:14:06. > :14:10.last Parliament we supported that and we want to encourage everyone to

:14:11. > :14:14.tenancies you can get a certainty of tenancies you can get a certainty of

:14:15. > :14:16.an annual increase, which is different than having an artificial

:14:17. > :14:22.imposed renting control from outside. Coming to the here and now,

:14:23. > :14:27.money is absolutely crucially important to the success of this

:14:28. > :14:32.legislation. I think we are getting a bit confused about the timings of

:14:33. > :14:34.reviews. I think from a select committee point of view t would seem

:14:35. > :14:37.to be two years on from to be two years on from

:14:38. > :14:40.theismentation of the act would be a good time to review whether it is

:14:41. > :14:44.working and whether the money is enabling it to work at that point.

:14:45. > :14:48.-- two years on from the implementation of the act.

:14:49. > :14:53.So I think we could commit to having a review, I hope the minister sees

:14:54. > :14:55.that as a helpful proposal, we will look at it alongside Government in

:14:56. > :14:59.reviewing the working of the legislation and the money at that

:15:00. > :15:05.time. My concern, however, is while there is money in the first year to

:15:06. > :15:07.help local government with start-up costs the act probably won't be

:15:08. > :15:12.implemented after regulations have been put in place for about a year.

:15:13. > :15:15.We have a second year with a limited amount of funding and in funding in

:15:16. > :15:18.the third year which is probably the second year of actual operation. I

:15:19. > :15:22.have concerns about that. I can't see there won't be any costs to

:15:23. > :15:26.local councils, so I think there is a need for a more immediate review

:15:27. > :15:33.after the act is passed with regard to that third year. Now, if

:15:34. > :15:37.ministers are looking at potentially quicker, immediate review of the

:15:38. > :15:39.finances, as soon as the act is passed, I think it will be helpful

:15:40. > :15:43.and certainly the committee will be ready I think to do an immediate

:15:44. > :15:49.review on that very limited basis at that time if that would assist in

:15:50. > :15:55.the process. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker,

:15:56. > :15:57.its a pleasure to follow the honourable gentleman for Sheffield

:15:58. > :16:06.South East, the Chairman the Select Committee. Now, Madame Deputy

:16:07. > :16:09.Speaker, many honourable, or the honourable and Right Honourable

:16:10. > :16:15.colleagues that have spoken in this date have talked a will the about

:16:16. > :16:19.the whys and where fors of process and who tabled which amendments

:16:20. > :16:32.where and when and which side is more sankty moanous than the other T

:16:33. > :16:38.almost springs to mind here. -- snactimonious.

:16:39. > :16:45.I'm in the going to get into that. This is about outcomes for people

:16:46. > :16:48.who are homelessness and who have unfortunately become homelessness. I

:16:49. > :16:54.am able it speak to the two clauses laid out today. New clause 1 would

:16:55. > :16:57.put on the face of the bill a statutory requirement for the

:16:58. > :17:02.Secretary of State to review this act, no earlier than one year after

:17:03. > :17:08.commencement and no litter than two years. And requires that the review,

:17:09. > :17:12.considering funding for the provisions of the act. The

:17:13. > :17:17.honourable member will recall that the question of reviewing the costs

:17:18. > :17:20.of the bill was raised and discussed at length during our deliberations

:17:21. > :17:28.in committee. But, for the benefit of those who were not there, let me

:17:29. > :17:33.state my commitment very clearly. I will review the implementation of

:17:34. > :17:40.the bill, including the resources of it, and how it is working in

:17:41. > :17:45.practice, concluding no later than two years after commencement of the

:17:46. > :17:54.substantive clauses of the bill. I will give way in just a moment.

:17:55. > :17:59.I will also carry out, in the same time frame, a post-implementation

:18:00. > :18:05.review of the new burdens, to review the robustness of our assessment of

:18:06. > :18:09.the estimated cost to local authorities and the underlying

:18:10. > :18:15.assumptions. As part of both reviews, I would welcome the input

:18:16. > :18:23.and expertees of the CLG select committee and would be very happy to

:18:24. > :18:27.discuss how they can be involved. The resources and funding

:18:28. > :18:34.requirements related to these duties will also be considered alongside

:18:35. > :18:38.all other responsibilities of local authorities, as part of future

:18:39. > :18:41.spending reviews. I think it is also important to bear in mind that the

:18:42. > :18:47.provisions of the bill will not be implemented on the day that the bill

:18:48. > :18:51.gets royal assent, as has been acknowledged by the opposition front

:18:52. > :18:53.bench. At committee we were very clear that the successful

:18:54. > :18:57.implementation of the bill will depend on working with local

:18:58. > :19:00.government to ensure that the resources, guidance and training are

:19:01. > :19:06.in place before the bill provisions are enacted. For that reason, each

:19:07. > :19:13.measure in the bill can be commenced independently once local authorities

:19:14. > :19:18.are ready. Given this is a statutory requirement to review, tied to the

:19:19. > :19:23.commencement date if the act is unworkable, since the substantive

:19:24. > :19:26.clause will be commenced at a later date I would also argue that a

:19:27. > :19:32.statutory requirement is unnecessary given the commitments already in

:19:33. > :19:36.place and the long-standing new burdens assessment procedures. I

:19:37. > :19:41.will give way. I would just say to my honourable friend, as he always

:19:42. > :19:45.does, will he make sure that his Civil Service is completely aligned

:19:46. > :19:49.with his objective. And secondly, I welcome his commitment to work with

:19:50. > :19:51.local authorities, I know my local authority Broxbourne would welcome

:19:52. > :19:55.the chance to discuss these matters with imhad, to make sure this bill

:19:56. > :20:00.is successful, as I know it is going to be and can I finally thank my

:20:01. > :20:03.honourable friend for Harrow East for his excellent work over the past

:20:04. > :20:07.few months, making sure today happens and new legislation comes

:20:08. > :20:11.into law. My honourable friend mentions an important point about

:20:12. > :20:14.working with local authorities. And we are actually determined to do

:20:15. > :20:20.that in the implementation of this bill. He know I have already met

:20:21. > :20:23.Broxbourne before to discuss these important issues and I would

:20:24. > :20:28.certainly be keen to do that again. He also mentioned my civil servants

:20:29. > :20:32.and making sure that their intention is aligned with my own. I can tell

:20:33. > :20:39.him that the civil servants working on this bill have done an absolutely

:20:40. > :20:41.excellent job, in very testing circumstances, whilst the Government

:20:42. > :20:45.has wanted to bring forward legislation. I think we need to

:20:46. > :20:49.acknowledge that this legislation has been very different, in that it

:20:50. > :20:52.has been a private member's bill that has been then worked upon by

:20:53. > :20:59.the select committee as well. That is then not just had that input but

:21:00. > :21:02.had input from local government association and the housing

:21:03. > :21:06.charities. So, our civil servants have done a magnificent job of

:21:07. > :21:13.helping us bring all of those groups together and coming out with a

:21:14. > :21:17.product that has broad support. On the issue of working with local

:21:18. > :21:21.authorities, he will know, it was raised in committee, my concerns

:21:22. > :21:24.about Westminster Council's recent decision to discharge duty to

:21:25. > :21:28.homeless people mainly outside local authority, and in some cases as far

:21:29. > :21:32.as the Midlands. His colleague on the front bench. The honourable

:21:33. > :21:36.member for Croydon South told me on the Sunday politics last week that

:21:37. > :21:40.Westminster Council was wrong to do this and in the long-run it should

:21:41. > :21:44.be stopped. I wonder if he can confirm that in the House today and

:21:45. > :21:48.tell me what he thinks the long run actually means? What I would say to

:21:49. > :21:52.the honourable lady and we discussed this in some detail in the committee

:21:53. > :21:57.and I'm not going to go into great detail today but what I would say to

:21:58. > :22:03.the honourable lady that the law is very clear on placements out of

:22:04. > :22:10.borough. And we are absolutely certain, as a Government, that we

:22:11. > :22:13.want that law to be observed and particularly in relation to making

:22:14. > :22:18.sure that councils look at people's circumstances, things such as where

:22:19. > :22:22.children go to school, and where people work, before they make any

:22:23. > :22:27.decisions that may affect a particular family.

:22:28. > :22:32.I will give way and then I'll make progress I'm grateful to the

:22:33. > :22:35.minister. Spoke a moment ago about successful implementation and

:22:36. > :22:40.reviewing that to check it has been achieved. Obviously that's partly

:22:41. > :22:44.the bureaucracy, if you like, successfully implementing the powers

:22:45. > :22:46.and money to meet it, so local authorities can discharge the

:22:47. > :22:50.function but the clause says it is about the fact it actually has on

:22:51. > :22:54.reducing homelessness. Before he finishes this point, can he tell us

:22:55. > :22:58.what is the Government's objective? What test is it setting itself with

:22:59. > :23:02.respect to reduce both rough sleeping and homelessness by 2020,

:23:03. > :23:09.so we can judge whether or not that has been a success? I would say to

:23:10. > :23:18.the right honourable gentleman that we have set out a significant

:23:19. > :23:21.determination to reduce both rough sleeping and homelessness in

:23:22. > :23:27.general. Nobody should ever have to spend the night on the street. It's

:23:28. > :23:31.greatable at this point that that is the case and that Government is

:23:32. > :23:37.absolutely determined to make sure that nobody has to sleep rough. But

:23:38. > :23:40.I would say to him that it is a complex matter, as I'm sure he is

:23:41. > :23:46.well awhich are. Some of the things that we are doing will have a

:23:47. > :23:51.significant impact. So, for example, there is a challenge of getting

:23:52. > :23:54.people moved on from hostel accommodation, into an intermediate

:23:55. > :24:01.position before they are able to go into accommodation of their own and

:24:02. > :24:05.we are bringing forward a sum of ?100 million for move-on

:24:06. > :24:10.accommodation, which will - there will be a bidding process for, which

:24:11. > :24:14.will open very shortly. I hope the honourable gentleman, in the spirit

:24:15. > :24:18.of the way this bill, or the right honourable gentleman, sorry, in the

:24:19. > :24:22.spirit of this bill will acknowledge that the government is not sitting

:24:23. > :24:28.on its laurels and it does not see this bill be a the be all and end

:24:29. > :24:34.all to deal with homelessness and rough sleeping and we take it very

:24:35. > :24:39.seriously and are doing a whole package of things to try and improve

:24:40. > :24:44.the situation for people. Madame Deputy Speaker, moving on to new

:24:45. > :24:50.clause 2, if enacted, this would mean that private sector landlords

:24:51. > :24:54.would not be able to rely on the no-fault ground for possession,

:24:55. > :25:01.known as section 21. Within the first three years of a tenancy,

:25:02. > :25:06.where the termation of the tenancy would result in a tenant becoming

:25:07. > :25:10.homeless, lands Lords and in many case tennants welcome the

:25:11. > :25:14.flexibility of the current assured short hold tenancy regime, which

:25:15. > :25:20.does not lock the parties into long-term commitments and promotes

:25:21. > :25:23.mobility. Without the certainty that landlords can seek possession,

:25:24. > :25:27.repossession when required. Perhaps for their own family to live in.

:25:28. > :25:32.Many would be reluctant to let their own properties. The unwanted outcome

:25:33. > :25:40.would be landlords withdrawing from the market and this would not help

:25:41. > :25:44.landlords or indeed tennants. Let me explain further, Madame

:25:45. > :25:49.Deputy Speaker, that before the assured short hold tenancies were

:25:50. > :25:54.introduced by the Housing Act in 1988, the private rental market was

:25:55. > :26:01.in decline. Regulated rents meant that being landlord was simply not

:26:02. > :26:06.commercially viable for many property owners but since since

:26:07. > :26:10.1988, the private rented sector has grown steadily, grown from just over

:26:11. > :26:15.9% of the market in 1988 to 19% today. I believe that the current

:26:16. > :26:20.framework strikes the right balance between the rights of land Lords and

:26:21. > :26:23.tennants and our efforts should be focussed on encouraging a voluntary

:26:24. > :26:29.approach to longer tenancies for those who want them. With these

:26:30. > :26:31.points in mind, I hope the honourable gentleman is going to

:26:32. > :26:35.follow through on the comments he made at the start of the debate and

:26:36. > :26:39.withdraw new clause 2. I will give way.

:26:40. > :26:46.I thank the Minister. It is true that the liberalisation of permitted

:26:47. > :26:50.development rights has released many more properties for rental and that

:26:51. > :26:54.is a very good thing. Will he agree with me that pressure in changes of

:26:55. > :27:00.fiscal policy in buy to let and four incidents in my own area selective

:27:01. > :27:03.licensing is encouraging more landlords to resist letting

:27:04. > :27:08.properties, and this proposal put forward by the opposition will

:27:09. > :27:12.exacerbate that trend? I think the very point he is making I would

:27:13. > :27:18.agree with, the more regulation is such that we lay on to residential

:27:19. > :27:24.landlords, the net effect will be that the supply will reduce and many

:27:25. > :27:28.of our constituents rely on renting private rental sector properties and

:27:29. > :27:33.we need to therefore be very careful that the balance is right. Madam

:27:34. > :27:39.Deputy Speaker, finally I would just like to talk about new clause three.

:27:40. > :27:43.If enacted it would introduce rent controls in private rented sector by

:27:44. > :27:48.compelling landlords to limit rent rises to no more than once a year

:27:49. > :27:54.and by no more than inflation in cases where there is a risk of the

:27:55. > :28:00.tenant becoming homeless as a result of a rent rise. Whilst I understand

:28:01. > :28:04.the spirit in which this amendment has been tabled, introducing rent

:28:05. > :28:09.controls is fundamentally the wrong approach and is not borne out by

:28:10. > :28:13.evidence. Experience from Britain and around the world shows

:28:14. > :28:17.rent-controlled leads to fewer properties on the market and less

:28:18. > :28:20.choice were tenants. Returning to the situation that we had in the

:28:21. > :28:25.1980s when the Private rented sector was in decline would not help

:28:26. > :28:29.landlords or tenants. The key to improving affordability and choice

:28:30. > :28:35.but tenants is to build more homes, rather than imposing rent controls.

:28:36. > :28:40.Our build to rent fund has contracted investment worth ?630

:28:41. > :28:45.million to deliver over 5600 high-quality homes specifically for

:28:46. > :28:50.Private rent, our ?3.5 million private rented sector housing

:28:51. > :28:54.guarantee scheme will increase investment into private sector

:28:55. > :28:58.housing. We have also established the Private rented sector

:28:59. > :29:01.affordability working group to explore options to reduce the cost

:29:02. > :29:06.of the tenant to access and move within the sector. This group is

:29:07. > :29:10.expected to submit its report to ministers next month. I therefore

:29:11. > :29:15.urge the House to agree that this amendment is not desirable and as

:29:16. > :29:18.with new clause two and hopefully new clause one with the commitment

:29:19. > :29:23.that I have made to the opposition front bench I hope new clauses one,

:29:24. > :29:30.two and three will indeed be withdrawn. Thank you very much,

:29:31. > :29:33.Madam Deputy Speaker. Could I quickly thank everybody who has

:29:34. > :29:38.spoken in this debate. I appreciate all the comments that have been

:29:39. > :29:43.made. I thank my right honourable friend for Leigh for speaking

:29:44. > :29:45.passionately about the situation in Manchester and the reminder that

:29:46. > :29:53.these are problems that go around the country. I said in my opening

:29:54. > :29:57.remarks that I would not propose new clauses two and three to vote, and I

:29:58. > :30:01.don't intend to do that. The purpose of being here was to try to elicit

:30:02. > :30:07.positive comments from the Minister, and we have failed in that respect.

:30:08. > :30:17.We will return to these matters no doubt at an early date. Eviction by

:30:18. > :30:21.landlords is the single greatest immediate cause of homelessness and

:30:22. > :30:25.it does need to be tackled, and we are not living in the world of 1988

:30:26. > :30:32.now, we are living in a very different and less stable economy

:30:33. > :30:35.will stop I was disappointed by the minister's rather wholesale

:30:36. > :30:40.rejection of that issue today, but I hope we will return to this on a

:30:41. > :30:47.future occasion. More positive, in relation to new clause one, I'm

:30:48. > :30:51.greatly encouraged by the Minister and thank him for entering into the

:30:52. > :30:55.spirit of the discussion on that and for the specific words that he used,

:30:56. > :31:01.that does give us the comfort we were looking for in relation to a

:31:02. > :31:07.proper and timely and comprehensive review of the finances behind the

:31:08. > :31:11.bill, and I'm particularly pleased that he said the chairman of the

:31:12. > :31:15.select committee and Select Committee itself will be engaged in

:31:16. > :31:20.that process as well as the Government, and I think that is

:31:21. > :31:23.extremely helpful, given the time pressures, to get these matters

:31:24. > :31:27.sorted out here rather than in the other place, and I'm sure the other

:31:28. > :31:36.place will be watching and listening and on that basis I wish to withdraw

:31:37. > :31:46.clause one. Is it the wish of the House that new clause one is

:31:47. > :31:55.withdrawn? The question is... Where are we now? OK, sorry. I apologise.

:31:56. > :31:59.I was waiting for the honourable gentleman... We come now to

:32:00. > :32:11.Government amendment one with which it will be convenient to consider

:32:12. > :32:13.Government amendment to -- two to nine. I am grateful for the

:32:14. > :32:20.opportunity to move these amendments. I shall start with

:32:21. > :32:23.amendment one. At our last committee session on January 18, I committed

:32:24. > :32:29.delaying an amendment to clause four to ensure that tenants at risk of

:32:30. > :32:36.becoming homeless were sufficiently protected and have access to the

:32:37. > :32:41.required help and support. The committee agreed amendments to

:32:42. > :32:47.clause one so that it now extends the period an applicant is

:32:48. > :32:51.threatened with homelessness from 28 to 56 days, and clarifies that an

:32:52. > :32:56.applicant is threatened with homelessness if they have a valid

:32:57. > :33:05.section 21 eviction notice that expires in 56 days or less.

:33:06. > :33:09.Amendment one to clause four extends the prevention duty to cover

:33:10. > :33:15.instances where a household that has been served with a valid section 21

:33:16. > :33:22.note still remains in the property after receiving 56 days of help from

:33:23. > :33:25.the local housing authority under the prevention duty and is still at

:33:26. > :33:30.risk of becoming homeless, specifically where is valid section

:33:31. > :33:39.21 notice has already expired or will expire in relation to the only

:33:40. > :33:44.accommodation the household has available. This amendment ensures

:33:45. > :33:50.that in such instances the prevention duty will continue to

:33:51. > :33:56.operate until such time as the local housing authority brings it to an

:33:57. > :34:02.end for one of the reasons set out in clause four, even if the 56 days

:34:03. > :34:09.have passed. If I may also address a related question about other ways of

:34:10. > :34:13.ending a tenancy, raised by a number of honourable members during the

:34:14. > :34:16.committee's consideration of clause one, particularly my honourable

:34:17. > :34:24.friend from mid Dorset and North Pole, that clause and this amendment

:34:25. > :34:27.address the particular need to clarify the status of an applicant

:34:28. > :34:34.who has been served with a section 21 notice, but obviously people can

:34:35. > :34:39.be threatened with homelessness in a number of ways, as was pointed out

:34:40. > :34:45.to the committee, and any eligible applicant who is at risk of being

:34:46. > :34:49.homeless in 56 days or less will absolutely be entitled to support

:34:50. > :34:55.under the new prevention duty. I will give way. Does the Minister

:34:56. > :35:03.agree with me that what we are doing today is absolutely fantastic, to

:35:04. > :35:06.address this situation, but is he not shocked that the leader of the

:35:07. > :35:12.Liberal Democrats is on the front page of my local paper today saying

:35:13. > :35:16.that if a liberal -- if the Liberal Democrats were elected to the

:35:17. > :35:18.council they would supply more than 1000 new homes to address

:35:19. > :35:25.homelessness, and yet there is not one of them sitting on the benches

:35:26. > :35:30.in this chamber? Well, I have been shocked, I would say, to my

:35:31. > :35:35.honourable friend at how little but there has been from the Liberal

:35:36. > :35:39.Democrats in regard to this bill. There is not one Liberal Democrat

:35:40. > :35:45.here at second reading and, as we can see today year, they do not

:35:46. > :35:49.appear again, so she makes a very good point that whilst at a local

:35:50. > :35:54.level there maybe some suggestion that they want to address this

:35:55. > :35:56.important issue, at a national level there doesn't appear to be a massive

:35:57. > :36:05.amount of interest the Liberal Democrats. One of the concerns that

:36:06. > :36:09.have been expressed not least by my honourable friend the Member for

:36:10. > :36:13.Colchester is in terms of councils that seek to ignore statutory

:36:14. > :36:18.guidance and will only get involved in terms of recognising someone is

:36:19. > :36:23.homeless when the notice is served. Shelter have expressed concerns

:36:24. > :36:28.around that in clause one, can the Minister give assurance in terms of

:36:29. > :36:32.guidance and prevents on duty that councils cannot simply hide and wait

:36:33. > :36:38.for that notice before they Act on vulnerable households and those at

:36:39. > :36:44.risk? I can give my honourable friend that reassurance and what I

:36:45. > :36:48.can also say to him is that the way in which the legislation will work,

:36:49. > :36:56.it will be in the local authorities' in trust themselves to work more

:36:57. > :37:00.quickly -- in their interest to work more quickly with people at risk of

:37:01. > :37:06.becoming homeless and, as we discussed many times at the

:37:07. > :37:12.committee, this will very much drive a culture change, this legislation

:37:13. > :37:16.will drive a culture change, so people are helped much further

:37:17. > :37:23.upstream than they are to date, particularly we are very, very keen

:37:24. > :37:26.to end the practice of people waiting, all councils seem to

:37:27. > :37:30.people, just wait for the bailiffs to arrive, then we will try and help

:37:31. > :37:35.you. We want people to be helped far earlier, we don't want them in a

:37:36. > :37:40.position where they face a court appearance and ACC J, which will not

:37:41. > :37:46.help their situation further on in trying to secure further

:37:47. > :37:50.accommodation -- or face a CCJ. Moving on, the remainder of the

:37:51. > :37:56.amendments in this group relate to the issues we identified with clause

:37:57. > :38:00.seven that were, unfortunately, unable to address at an earlier

:38:01. > :38:05.stage. A key issue we identified was a workable balance between

:38:06. > :38:09.incentives and protections in cases where an applicant with fuses a

:38:10. > :38:16.suitable offer of accommodation at the prevention and relief stages. We

:38:17. > :38:20.have been working closely with the local government sector and with

:38:21. > :38:28.homelessness charities to resolve this and develop a way forward. I

:38:29. > :38:31.want to thank all of those who have provided their expertise and

:38:32. > :38:35.support. We will discuss the core amendments to clause seven in the

:38:36. > :38:41.next group. This deals with the consequential amendments to clause

:38:42. > :38:45.is four, five and six. Amendments two and four clarify the

:38:46. > :38:49.circumstances when the new prevention and relief duties can be

:38:50. > :38:54.brought to an end by the local housing authority. They would

:38:55. > :38:58.require not only that a suitable accommodation offer had been turned

:38:59. > :39:05.down, but also that accommodation would have been available for at

:39:06. > :39:13.least six months. Clause is four and five insert sections 195, new

:39:14. > :39:19.sections 195 and 185 he respectably into the housing Act 1996. The set

:39:20. > :39:23.out the duties owed to those either threatened with homelessness or who

:39:24. > :39:28.are homeless, both clauses contain provision allowing these duties to

:39:29. > :39:33.be brought to an end where a number of circumstances apply. Amendments

:39:34. > :39:38.two and four amend these new sections. I will in just a moment.

:39:39. > :39:47.Amendments two and four amend these new sections 189 e-macro and 1952 at

:39:48. > :39:51.knowledge that the grounds the giving notice would not just be a

:39:52. > :39:55.refusal of suitable accommodation but also on the date the

:39:56. > :39:58.accommodation was refused there was a reasonable prospect that the

:39:59. > :40:05.accommodation would not have been available for at least six months,

:40:06. > :40:11.or such longer period not exceeding 12 months as may be prescribed in

:40:12. > :40:15.regulations. These amendments are relatively simple and ensure

:40:16. > :40:20.consistency with provisions elsewhere in the bill. I will give

:40:21. > :40:24.way. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I appreciate The right

:40:25. > :40:27.honourable member giving way and I don't want to take up much time in

:40:28. > :40:34.the spirit of the cross-party nature of this, I want to pay credit to my

:40:35. > :40:39.Council and all councillors in Richmond upon Thames on the work

:40:40. > :40:45.that has been done. My concern is that every single homeless this case

:40:46. > :40:48.in my area, in my constituency of Twickenham, is absolutely unique. I

:40:49. > :40:53.have come across a small number, very small number of cases where the

:40:54. > :41:01.actual homeless person has refused accommodation that has been suitable

:41:02. > :41:04.and they have refused it for individual situation, they are not

:41:05. > :41:11.section of all, but it is to do with mental health. Will the final

:41:12. > :41:12.accommodation not be a full stop and can the person come back and ask

:41:13. > :41:23.again for the accommodation? Auto What I will say to my

:41:24. > :41:25.honourable friend, I certainly agree that there are many local

:41:26. > :41:32.authorities across the country working very hard to help people who

:41:33. > :41:37.are homeless and we hope that the provisions in this bill will improve

:41:38. > :41:40.the situation further. In relation to the particular circumstances she

:41:41. > :41:47.mentions a person may be in, what I can say to her is there would be a

:41:48. > :41:53.position where a person could go back to that local authority for a

:41:54. > :41:58.review. So, certainly there is a safeguard for people in that sense.

:41:59. > :42:03.Madame Deputy Speaker, amendments, yes I will give wanchts I thank the

:42:04. > :42:08.minister for giving way. Would he confirm my understanding that the

:42:09. > :42:13.bill incorporates a particular and special safeguard that is a full

:42:14. > :42:20.written warning before any duty is then withdrawn, so that is an extra

:42:21. > :42:23.bit of protection to make sure those that are facing a termination of

:42:24. > :42:28.duty know what they are getting themselves into? My honourable

:42:29. > :42:35.friend has been a diligent member of the bill committee and I thank him

:42:36. > :42:40.for that and he is indeed correct that there is provision within this

:42:41. > :42:47.bill for, in that sense a final written warning.

:42:48. > :42:51.We obviously want to make sure that there is an inventive for people to

:42:52. > :43:00.do the right thing and accept an offer of suitable accommodation but

:43:01. > :43:04.I think we also need to consider those people where there are

:43:05. > :43:08.challenges and they do need that final warning to, in some

:43:09. > :43:16.circumstances, perhaps, make them think again and actually take up the

:43:17. > :43:25.offer that they have been provided with by the local authority in

:43:26. > :43:29.question. So sections 3 and 5 insert helpful signposts in clauses 4 and 5

:43:30. > :43:35.to ensure they are cross-referenced with clause 7. Specifically they

:43:36. > :43:42.insert references to the clause 7 provisions about the ending the

:43:43. > :43:45.prevention and relief duties in case whereas an applicant has

:43:46. > :43:49.deliberately and unreasonably refused to cooperate and to

:43:50. > :43:54.provisions about ending the relief duty where an applicant has refused

:43:55. > :44:00.a final accommodation offer or a final part 6 offer. This shrimp

:44:01. > :44:05.means that the ways in which the prevention and relief duties can be

:44:06. > :44:09.ended are easier to see and understand when reading those

:44:10. > :44:16.clauses. Amendment 8, together with amendment

:44:17. > :44:22.6 and 7 deal with the provision of interim accommodation while a local

:44:23. > :44:28.housing authority is helping an applicant to secure accommodation

:44:29. > :44:35.under clause 5. Amendment 6 sets out that where a local housing authority

:44:36. > :44:39.has reason to believe that an applicant may be homeless, eligible

:44:40. > :44:42.for assistance and in priority need, they must secure interim

:44:43. > :44:49.accommodation. It also sets out how this duty comes to an end. In cases

:44:50. > :44:53.where the local housing authority, having concluded their inquiries

:44:54. > :44:58.under the homelessness legislation, conclude that the applicant does not

:44:59. > :45:04.have a priority need, this duty comes to an end into circumstances.

:45:05. > :45:09.First, if the local housing authority notifies the applicant

:45:10. > :45:13.that the relief duty is not owed. Second, if the local housing

:45:14. > :45:19.authority notifies the applicant that once the relief duty ends, they

:45:20. > :45:23.will not be owed any further duty to accommodate. Amendment 7 is a

:45:24. > :45:30.technical amendment to the Housing Act required as a result of

:45:31. > :45:35.amendment 6 and 8. Where an application has been provided with

:45:36. > :45:38.interim - where an applicant has been provided with interim

:45:39. > :45:43.accommodation and refuses a final offer, they may request a review of

:45:44. > :45:46.the suitability of that offer. Amendment 8 ensures the duty to

:45:47. > :45:52.secure interim accommodation continues until any review has been

:45:53. > :46:00.concluded and the decision has been notified to the applicant.

:46:01. > :46:07.And finally, in this group, I turn to amendment 9. The duties to

:46:08. > :46:11.applicants under clauses 4 and #5, the prevention and relief duties are

:46:12. > :46:16.to help the applicants secure accommodation. In some cases this

:46:17. > :46:19.will entail the local housing authority actually securing this

:46:20. > :46:23.accommodation directly, rather than helping the applicant by, for

:46:24. > :46:31.example, providing a deposit guarantee. Amendment 9 provides that

:46:32. > :46:36.where this is the case, the provisions of sections 206 and 209

:46:37. > :46:42.of the Housing Act, 1996 apply in the same way, they would, if the

:46:43. > :46:47.local housing authority secured accommodation under the main

:46:48. > :46:53.homelessness duty. These sections contain various

:46:54. > :46:56.provisions about how a local housing authority's housing functions are to

:46:57. > :47:00.be discharged. For example, how they may secure that accommodation is

:47:01. > :47:07.available, and how they can require an applicant to pay a reasonable

:47:08. > :47:14.charge for the accommodation. Provisions also cover the

:47:15. > :47:18.requirements relating to placements in and out of district, including

:47:19. > :47:26.notifications to the hosting local housing authority. So, I will leave

:47:27. > :47:30.it at that in terms of amendments 1 to 9, Madame Deputy Speaker and hope

:47:31. > :47:34.the House will look on these amendments in the spirit this bill

:47:35. > :47:38.has been conducted within and look favourably to support the said

:47:39. > :47:44.amendments. The question is that amendment 1 be

:47:45. > :47:48.made. Andy Slaughter. Thank you very much, Madame Deputy Speaker, I must

:47:49. > :47:55.say after the 14 hours and seven sittings of the committee we have

:47:56. > :48:02.heard about, I saw some alarm when 21 amendments over six pages were

:48:03. > :48:07.tabled by the Government earlier this week, last week, and read

:48:08. > :48:10.through them and I have to say on the first reading through was not

:48:11. > :48:15.much the wiser as to what was happening. However, one perseveres

:48:16. > :48:20.as one always does with legislation and I must say two things - firstly,

:48:21. > :48:28.I do appreciate the difficulties that the minister and his sponsor

:48:29. > :48:31.have had in squaring a circle whereby localp government, landlords

:48:32. > :48:35.and the homelessness charities all need to be happy about the way the

:48:36. > :48:43.bill is working, not the principles of the bill, which I think have been

:48:44. > :48:48.agreed. I take that. And I also, am grateful for the minister giving the

:48:49. > :48:52.time of his officials to go through in some detail about the clauses,

:48:53. > :48:58.what the implications were and why they were necessary and I speak to

:48:59. > :49:02.for my honourable friend on that as well. I don't take point about that.

:49:03. > :49:06.It is questionable about whether it could be done differently but we are

:49:07. > :49:10.where we are and I can say as far as the opposition is concerned, we do

:49:11. > :49:15.regard these amendment and the second set we will come on to in due

:49:16. > :49:19.course, as being either necessary, or improving of the bill and,

:49:20. > :49:25.therefore, we are not going to be opposing any of them today. And,

:49:26. > :49:31.indeed I can be fairly brief in responding. The only two concerns I

:49:32. > :49:35.would raise are this: I think we've all struggled with clause 1. I think

:49:36. > :49:39.when you start debating clause 1, I think in the sixth sessions of the

:49:40. > :49:45.committee, you know that something is awry. -- when you are still

:49:46. > :49:49.debating. And there had been real difficulties getting that operative

:49:50. > :49:55.clause of the bill correct. I think it is still not perfect. Much of the

:49:56. > :50:01.original articles had to be owe committed because it created more

:50:02. > :50:06.problems than it resolved. The key point about extending duty from 28

:50:07. > :50:14.to 56 days is still there. But, there are concerns. And they have

:50:15. > :50:15.been expressed the concerns, but notwithstanding that,

:50:16. > :50:20.notwithstanding the further amendments here which will extend

:50:21. > :50:24.that doubty beyond the 56 days where necessary, that this does allow

:50:25. > :50:28.local authorities to continue to drag their feet in some cases.

:50:29. > :50:36.But, I think everything that has been said on all sides and the rep

:50:37. > :50:39.finements here which add to -- refinements here which add to clause

:50:40. > :50:45.1, certainly shows the spirit of this bill and I hope the letter when

:50:46. > :50:49.we come to the codes of guidance attached to it, that it really does

:50:50. > :50:55.require all local authorities to act at an early stage and to deal with,

:50:56. > :50:58.in the case of section 21 notice, and deal with the issue of

:50:59. > :51:06.homelessness and threat enidea homelessness at an early stage. The

:51:07. > :51:13.-- and threatened homelessness. The other point made, and ministers may

:51:14. > :51:16.come on to discuss this when we Dell with subsequent section, what

:51:17. > :51:23.additional costs there are likely to be here, both in relation to

:51:24. > :51:27.prevention assistance beyond 56 days and, which is quite proper, about

:51:28. > :51:32.being clear about when interim duties come to an end and continuing

:51:33. > :51:35.those interim duties while reviews are continuing, there are

:51:36. > :51:39.undoubtedly going to be cost implications and I would like to

:51:40. > :51:44.hear from the Government, not only that those will be fully funded but

:51:45. > :51:47.whether those funds have been calculated and whether they are,

:51:48. > :51:53.whether we are going to hear about them today? We certainly need it

:51:54. > :52:01.hear about them before the bill leaves both Houses. But with those

:52:02. > :52:08.two caveats and reservations, Madame Deputy Speaker, I think I can be

:52:09. > :52:15.commendably brief in my comments. Bob Blackman? Thank you Madame

:52:16. > :52:19.Deputy Speaker. I'm pleased to rise in support of the amendments to and

:52:20. > :52:23.to follow the honourable member in Hammersmith. These amendments have

:52:24. > :52:27.been sometime in coming, it is fair to say and I would commend my

:52:28. > :52:33.honourable friend the minister and officials and also the homelessness

:52:34. > :52:39.charities and the landlords associations in assisting us to get

:52:40. > :52:45.to an appropriate compromise. The honourable member for Hammersmith

:52:46. > :52:51.pointed out that clause 1 was debated for some time, well into the

:52:52. > :52:57.actual debating time in committee. And indeed so was clause 7 by which

:52:58. > :53:01.time we had passed clauses 4, 5 and 6.

:53:02. > :53:05.And these of Government amendments today relate to those particular

:53:06. > :53:14.clauses that we debated in committee and clearly the amendments that we

:53:15. > :53:19.made to adelaus 1, in committee, had consequential impacts and needed to

:53:20. > :53:27.be reflected in clauses 4, 5 and 6. They, of course refer to the duty in

:53:28. > :53:35.cases of threatened homelessness, the duties owed to those who were

:53:36. > :53:39.actually homeless and the duties toer secure accommodation. So they

:53:40. > :53:42.are very largely technical in nature and follow-up on the changes that

:53:43. > :53:50.the bill committee made in committee. The most important aspect

:53:51. > :53:55.of this is that the prevention dutedy cannot end, after 56 days

:53:56. > :53:58.with the individual or family still sitting in their current home,

:53:59. > :54:05.facing eviction under a section 21 notice of the Housing Act and where

:54:06. > :54:10.nowhere else to go. It is one of the consequences that clause 1, which

:54:11. > :54:13.was in the original draft bill, got substantially changed before second

:54:14. > :54:15.reading, after prelegislative scrutiny and then has been

:54:16. > :54:20.substantially changed again in committee. And that has a

:54:21. > :54:27.consequential knock-on effect with the other clauses in the bill and

:54:28. > :54:31.that is why these are essential. I certainly believe that we've now

:54:32. > :54:35.got to a position with these particular clauses that that will

:54:36. > :54:39.help make sure that local housing authorities act at an early stage.

:54:40. > :54:43.We do not want - and I think we should place on record and I think

:54:44. > :54:48.it is right across the House. We do not want a single individual or

:54:49. > :54:52.family to be told by a local housing authority - yes, you may be

:54:53. > :54:56.threatened with homelessness, go back to your home, stay put and wait

:54:57. > :55:03.until the court action follow and the bailiffs arrive. That is

:55:04. > :55:08.completely against both the spirit of this bill and indeed against what

:55:09. > :55:13.everyone wants to see. If we get to a point whereby landlords are taking

:55:14. > :55:16.tennants to court, gaining possession orders, getting bailiffs,

:55:17. > :55:20.getting County Court judgments against tennants, it makes it

:55:21. > :55:25.extremely unlikely that those tennants, who will then be evicted,

:55:26. > :55:29.face huge bills for cost, will then be able to get accommodation in a

:55:30. > :55:34.private rented sector ever again. And I think the problem has been

:55:35. > :55:41.that in correcting this position, that what we want to make sure is

:55:42. > :55:45.the bad practice, followed by some local authorities, by no means all,

:55:46. > :55:51.of telling tennants to go back and stay put has to end. That, above all

:55:52. > :55:56.else, is important. But the individuals who are faced with

:55:57. > :56:01.homelessness can get help and advice from the word go, once they approach

:56:02. > :56:05.the local housing authority and that if beget to a technical -- and that

:56:06. > :56:09.if we get to a technical position that actually the 56 days has

:56:10. > :56:12.expired under the duty, then actually these clarification that is

:56:13. > :56:15.my honourable friend the Minster is proposing, make sure that that

:56:16. > :56:18.doesn't allow the local housing authority toned their duty. I think

:56:19. > :56:28.that's a very positive move. The rest of the amendments in the

:56:29. > :56:33.group reflect the changes which we made on Clause seven in Bill

:56:34. > :56:39.committee, and once again ensure that protectionism is in place for

:56:40. > :56:45.applicants. I will give way to the right honourable gentleman. I've

:56:46. > :56:52.listened very carefully and he says he thinks protections are in place.

:56:53. > :56:56.I'm looking at Amendment two, which guarantees a tenancy of at least six

:56:57. > :57:01.months. As I understand that that is a reduction in the current level of

:57:02. > :57:06.service, which is a tendency of at least 12 months. I'm not saying that

:57:07. > :57:10.is wrong, but I want to ask the honourable gentleman to comment,

:57:11. > :57:14.people often need the security in their tenancies so they can sort out

:57:15. > :57:19.may be other problems that they may have, and is six months long enough?

:57:20. > :57:21.Might it not lead to repeat homelessness as people do not have

:57:22. > :57:28.that longer term security beneath them? I think the right honourable

:57:29. > :57:31.gentleman. Clearly both in the select committee during our

:57:32. > :57:40.homelessness inquiry, during the Bill committee, during the debates

:57:41. > :57:43.we have had, not only in this plan that tenancies should be longer than

:57:44. > :58:05.six months or more case doing some of the debates

:58:06. > :58:12.where we've got this unrighteous circle if you forgive me, Madam

:58:13. > :58:16.Deputy Speaker, of people becoming but in accommodation by the local

:58:17. > :58:21.authority, that tenancy comes to an end, back they come and it is a

:58:22. > :58:27.repeat cycle. We are all committed that we want to end that cycle. The

:58:28. > :58:29.concern we had in presenting this particular legislation is that we do

:58:30. > :59:22.not get the opportunity to convey -- change the loan that when hit, but

:59:23. > :59:27.where we got to, in terms of the debate and discussion, was that in

:59:28. > :59:32.certain clauses with the legislation there is provision for 12 months

:59:33. > :59:37.tenancies, and we were just down the position to six months. With a cap

:59:38. > :59:41.at 12 months. But remember, and the right honourable gentleman should

:59:42. > :59:50.remember, there is the relief duty, and of course the duty owed to

:59:51. > :59:54.priority need applicants. So there is a variety of different duties

:59:55. > :00:01.that we are seeking to address within this legislation, and the

:00:02. > :00:04.predominant aim has always been not to place priority needs -- need

:00:05. > :00:10.families in a worse position than they would otherwise have been in by

:00:11. > :00:17.the changes to the law. I will give way. My honourable friend, I pay

:00:18. > :00:24.tribute to him getting this debate in the first place. I have been

:00:25. > :00:30.listening to both sides, but what I would like to ask in the provisions,

:00:31. > :00:35.with the Minister and this has consider the effects that would

:00:36. > :00:39.happen to our service who live in Mac leave the Armed Forces under the

:00:40. > :00:42.Armed Forces covenant? Because due to problems that they have, in

:00:43. > :03:52.certain cases, and each one could be unique, but we are all issues that

:03:53. > :03:56.are, and with great complexity, but the complexity, but, this. I'm sure

:03:57. > :04:01.my honourable friend and that is used indicated that this is not one

:04:02. > :04:07.of those occasions, at that point that my friend the Member for the

:04:08. > :04:12.House made that there is a great deal of discussion, not really

:04:13. > :04:21.within this has caused both sides of the chamber, but as far organisation

:04:22. > :04:25.that the charity fight the case of people, landlords and association of

:04:26. > :04:30.-- and others. So it is important you get this right. A lot of

:04:31. > :04:33.follow-up on the As many as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the

:04:34. > :04:38.contrary, "no". Forehand is, and page views and unfulfilled visit as

:04:39. > :04:45.a form of a professional manner of issues. He is absolutely right,

:04:46. > :04:51.coming back to Clause one, is a long time to get there. It goes back to

:04:52. > :04:57.the heart of the fifth of that many of us have a Father Cullen working

:04:58. > :05:03.of the legislation, says that one of the worst aspects of the way from

:05:04. > :05:09.the families are treated, even those privileged to have a fantasy, is

:05:10. > :05:15.that they are full to go away, successfully for the fourth year the

:05:16. > :05:24.case, then the authorities in fact a court order has the faith and the

:05:25. > :05:39.situation. For the cases, and the phases of life, and and is if as

:05:40. > :05:48.that is the fact that the fact the fifth. The in the faith 56 days

:05:49. > :05:51.division effectively and responsibility, the provisional duty

:05:52. > :05:56.can you feel as if a family have settled the his father. And I have

:05:57. > :06:01.observed that specific disease of homelessness in the section on the

:06:02. > :06:09.serve, rather than a forgetful, this was an version of Clause one

:06:10. > :06:15.activity on stage. I have the effect that the requirement to exercise the

:06:16. > :06:29.provisional duty does not just lack of vision that is of a section his

:06:30. > :06:37.sister is in what is to be very important of course is the code of

:06:38. > :06:43.guidance. We talked at some length about this. I had a discussion

:06:44. > :06:50.outside the committee which we then referred to in committee. The code

:06:51. > :06:51.of guidance can be so important on how local authorities treat a family

:06:52. > :07:05.with a Shelter It is also important in terms of

:07:06. > :07:08.making sure aven evident, as far as possible, recognises a family's

:07:09. > :07:11.individual circumstances, in regards to the schooling of children,

:07:12. > :07:14.employment, the family members, care responsibilities and other things

:07:15. > :07:18.they may have. They are absolutely important or indeed where a family

:07:19. > :07:21.unfortunately has to be offered accommodation outside a borough,

:07:22. > :07:24.that the receiving borough is actually notified of that family

:07:25. > :07:29.coming. All those are important issues. Many are in the code of

:07:30. > :07:33.guidance already, and they aren't actually implemented and properly

:07:34. > :07:41.addressed by authorities. So, Madame Deputy Speaker, going on from the

:07:42. > :07:46.final adoption of this bill, with an act, when the code of guidance is

:07:47. > :07:49.issued, the minister has very helpfully said, in committee, he

:07:50. > :07:53.will bring that code for approval by Parliament and I think that's a

:07:54. > :07:59.really welcome step by the minister, I think we have said as a select

:08:00. > :08:03.committee, that we will very quickly take an evidence session on that

:08:04. > :08:08.code of guidance because we want to make sure that is right as well.

:08:09. > :08:11.Getting the act right and a code of guidance that doesn't work, will

:08:12. > :08:23.make us no Bert off, but getting both right ting -- no better off,

:08:24. > :08:29.but getting both right means we can address getting homelessness and

:08:30. > :08:33.homeless families better. And I welcome that we can get

:08:34. > :08:37.legislation in the end, on a cross-party, cross the House basis,

:08:38. > :08:39.really work. I thank my honourable friend for

:08:40. > :09:02.giving way. Not only are we talking about the

:09:03. > :09:07.code of guidance, but the provision for codes of practice to be issued.

:09:08. > :09:12.So if local authorities fail to live up to both the spirit and the letter

:09:13. > :09:15.of the law, the Minister or the Secretary of State will have the

:09:16. > :09:20.opportunity to impose upon them that they're actually do what we are

:09:21. > :09:23.expecting them to do. The select committee may well want to look at

:09:24. > :09:27.the codes of practice as well just to expand our remote and make sure

:09:28. > :09:31.it is working in every respect. Ministers have gone further and said

:09:32. > :09:35.they want local authorities to come forward with an indication to

:09:36. > :09:49.Government about how they intend to implement the act.

:09:50. > :09:56.These are welcome measures, and the Local Government Association will

:09:57. > :09:59.want to be thoroughly involved. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, with those

:10:00. > :10:03.particular comments about how we need to take some of these issues

:10:04. > :10:07.further forward after the Bill becomes an act, I am happy to

:10:08. > :10:21.support the amendments that are before us. Thank you, Madam Deputy

:10:22. > :10:24.Speaker. I would like to start by responding to the comments made by

:10:25. > :10:31.the honourable gentleman for Hammersmith. I think it was quite

:10:32. > :10:39.clear to all in the House at second reading of this Bill that there had

:10:40. > :10:44.been significant concerns raised at second reading, particularly in

:10:45. > :10:49.respect of the view of the residential landlords association.

:10:50. > :10:57.In the spirit of the way in which this Bill has been developed,

:10:58. > :11:05.significant work event took place to try and resolve that issue. So that

:11:06. > :11:13.this legislation was not put at risk later on during the parliamentary

:11:14. > :11:17.process. In terms of that work, it was not just done with the

:11:18. > :11:24.residential landlords' association, it was done in conjunction with a

:11:25. > :11:30.number of charities, and the Local Government Association. Now, in the

:11:31. > :11:34.spirit of wanting to get the registration right, I will

:11:35. > :11:37.acknowledge that the amendments that we are bringing forward today, it

:11:38. > :11:43.would have been desirable to bring them forward before now, and that

:11:44. > :11:48.committee stage. But unfortunately, due to challenges, and I thank my

:11:49. > :11:51.honourable member -- my honourable friend for Harrow East, who has

:11:52. > :11:56.outlined some of those challenges, and getting to a position where we

:11:57. > :12:03.have a Bill that works across the housing sector, it has taken some

:12:04. > :12:07.time to get where we are today. But I think we have now, Madam Deputy

:12:08. > :12:20.Speaker, a good product so to speak. I would like to quickly thank the

:12:21. > :12:24.various charities that have contributed to dealing with this

:12:25. > :12:28.particular group - I will in just one moment - the charities that have

:12:29. > :12:34.contributed to towards this. I would like to thank the Residential Lands

:12:35. > :12:37.Lords' Association and the Local Government Association and,

:12:38. > :12:41.particularly, my honourable friend for Harrow East, who has shown a

:12:42. > :12:51.great deal of patience within all this. I would certainly like to

:12:52. > :12:56.thank my officials who have worked tirelessly and all hours to tie up

:12:57. > :13:04.with various organisations that I've already mentioned to try to make

:13:05. > :13:11.this bill come to a position to give way.

:13:12. > :13:15.If the honourable member could address this. Why cap it at 12

:13:16. > :13:19.months? It seems it is encouraging local authorities to give offers of

:13:20. > :13:24.shorter-term tens a sis rather than standed a offers of longer term tens

:13:25. > :13:27.a sis. The select committee I don't believe recommended a 12-month cap?

:13:28. > :13:32.Why was the Government inserted that? What I will do, if the right

:13:33. > :13:36.honourable gentleman will forgive me for just a few minutes, I will just

:13:37. > :13:41.clear off some of the points I was going to make and I will come on to

:13:42. > :13:46.address the very point he raises directly. Now the honourable

:13:47. > :13:52.gentleman for Hammersmith mentioned some concerns with that shelter had

:13:53. > :13:58.got with regard to the way clause 1 has now been produced. I would just

:13:59. > :14:08.say to the honourable gentleman that I can assure him that agreement,

:14:09. > :14:11.before this clause 1 was tabled and the amendments was tabled agreement

:14:12. > :14:15.was reached with Shlter amongst other organisations that this clause

:14:16. > :14:19.would be acceptable. The honourable gentleman also mentioned costings

:14:20. > :14:24.and we had a long, long debate at committee stage in regard to costs.

:14:25. > :14:28.I hope he is - I know he has been reassured by my comments today,

:14:29. > :14:32.particularly in terms of his willingness to withdraw new clause

:14:33. > :14:36.1. I did under take to look at the cost of any aamendments that will be

:14:37. > :14:42.brought to this bill and once this bill has been amended I will be more

:14:43. > :14:51.than willing to share with the House what the additional costs will be.

:14:52. > :14:59.I can come on to the comments my honourable friend for Leigh

:15:00. > :15:04.addressed. I can assure him that the reference to 12 months means the

:15:05. > :15:09.minimum amount of tenancy can be increased to 127 months by

:15:10. > :15:16.regulations. So, basically, if the rental market changed, and if we

:15:17. > :15:21.were in a position to change this legislation to reflect a 12-month

:15:22. > :15:26.tenancy, rather than 6-month tenancy that provision provides us with the

:15:27. > :15:31.flexibility to do so but it does not put a maximum cap on the tenancy

:15:32. > :15:35.that can be secured. If a local authority is able it secure a

:15:36. > :15:42.three-year tenancy because that's what landlord saufrg, they would be

:15:43. > :15:47.able to take up that offer -- able to secure a three-year tenancy

:15:48. > :15:53.because that's what the land Lord a offering, they would be able to take

:15:54. > :15:59.up that offer of a longer tenancy for people who are homeless or

:16:00. > :16:02.facial homelessness. In regard to the honourable gentleman's comments

:16:03. > :16:10.for Sheffield South East and I would like it thank the honourable

:16:11. > :16:14.gentleman for - I nearly went to far - and I'm not sure as to whether

:16:15. > :16:17.honourable friend would be right, bearing in mind I have another

:16:18. > :16:21.appearance before the select committee onp Monday but I would

:16:22. > :16:24.like to thank the honourable gentleman for his part that he

:16:25. > :16:34.played, not just on the select committee but for the part that he

:16:35. > :16:42.has played alongside the honourable gentleman for Hammersmith and a

:16:43. > :16:45.number of other Right Honourable colleagues, particularly the

:16:46. > :16:49.honourable lady for Dulwich and West Norwood who is also on the select

:16:50. > :16:56.committee for the work that they have been willing to do behind the

:16:57. > :17:01.scenes, to make this bill get to the point that it has so far.

:17:02. > :17:06.In regard to the code of guidance that he mentioned, it is absolutely

:17:07. > :17:12.critical that we get that right. As the honourable gentleman knows, the

:17:13. > :17:16.code of guidance will be updated. Within the legislation there is

:17:17. > :17:22.commitment to put that before the House and we will certainly be

:17:23. > :17:26.working with the Local Government Association in relation to that code

:17:27. > :17:34.of guidance, to make sure we get it as right as we possibly can. As my

:17:35. > :17:40.honourable friend for Harrow East also pointed out, there are

:17:41. > :17:46.provisions in this bill that give powers for a code of practice. So,

:17:47. > :17:52.the Secretary of State can make regulations to reinforce any current

:17:53. > :18:01.legislation that is currently available in this sense. Or he can

:18:02. > :18:08.introduce new regulations in regard to the provisions of this bill. So,

:18:09. > :18:14.I think what we have here,m Madame Deputy Speaker, is a very positive

:18:15. > :18:20.consensus from across the House, that this package of aamendments in

:18:21. > :18:25.the second grouping, does actually improve the bill and does actually

:18:26. > :18:31.seek to put the bill in a place where it'll make the bill far more

:18:32. > :18:35.workable. I'll leave it at that. The question is that amendment 1 be

:18:36. > :18:41.made. As many of that opinion say aye. Of the contrary noe. I think

:18:42. > :18:47.the ayes have T with leave we will take Government aamendments 2 to 9

:18:48. > :18:51.together. Minster to move Government amendment 2 to 9 forward. Move

:18:52. > :18:58.forward. The question is that they made be made as many of that opinion

:18:59. > :19:02.say aye. Of the contrary no. The eyes have T we come to Government

:19:03. > :19:06.amendment 10 which will be considered to consider Government 11

:19:07. > :19:11.to 21. Minister to move amendment 10. Thank you, Madame Deputy

:19:12. > :19:15.Speaker, this is the last set of Government amendments to be moved.

:19:16. > :19:21.I'm grateful for the forebearance of the House. As he explained in the

:19:22. > :19:26.last group, we identified a number of issues with clause 7 that we were

:19:27. > :19:32.unfortunately able to resolve during the committee stage. This group

:19:33. > :19:40.contains the core corrections to clause 7 itself. We have already

:19:41. > :19:49.discussed the related amendments to clauses 4, 5 and 6 and this group

:19:50. > :20:02.also contains related amendments to clause 9, to, 10 and 12.

:20:03. > :20:05.This deals with the consequences for applicants refusing offers of

:20:06. > :20:10.accommodation made by the local housing authority during the relief

:20:11. > :20:15.duty. The bill already provides that the local housing authority can

:20:16. > :20:19.bring the relief duty to an end if an applicant refuses an offer of

:20:20. > :20:25.suitable accommodation. The applicant can then go into the main

:20:26. > :20:28.homelessness duty, under section 19369 Housing Act 1996, if they are

:20:29. > :20:33.owed it. We believe that it is right, where

:20:34. > :20:39.an applicant is made a suitable offer under the relief duty, they

:20:40. > :20:44.should not be able to move into the main duty, by refusing that offer.

:20:45. > :20:48.This is an important part of the balance between rights and

:20:49. > :20:56.responsibilities for applicants. However, it is also essential that

:20:57. > :21:01.if the offer is intended to be the applicant's final offer, appropriate

:21:02. > :21:06.safeguards are in place. Amendment 10 provides that where an applicant

:21:07. > :21:10.refuses an offer and the relief duty has ended, the applicant will not

:21:11. > :21:16.proceed to the main duty but this will only be the case if that offer

:21:17. > :21:21.reaches a particular standard. The offer must either be a final

:21:22. > :21:29.accommodation offer or a final part 6 offer. And the applicant must be

:21:30. > :21:33.informed of the consequences of refusing and of their right to

:21:34. > :21:38.request a review of the suitability of the accommodation. A final part 6

:21:39. > :21:45.offer is a suitable offer of social housing. A final accommodation offer

:21:46. > :21:52.is an offer of an assured short-hold tenancy with a term of at least six

:21:53. > :21:57.months in the private rented sector. Aamendments 14, 15 and 16 clarify

:21:58. > :22:01.that a final offer of an assured short hold tenancy, made to an

:22:02. > :22:04.applicant who has refused to cooperate, will be made by a private

:22:05. > :22:16.landlord. This is ification into line with other

:22:17. > :22:27.provisions related to private rented sector offers in the homelessness

:22:28. > :22:32.legislation. Amendments 17, 1819 reflect the clauses introduced by

:22:33. > :22:38.veryrep vent parts of clause 10, providing the applicant with a vee

:22:39. > :22:43.view of the suit afblt accommodation and that that that review is

:22:44. > :22:47.applied. At the moment, delaus 7 is drafted

:22:48. > :22:50.-- clause 7 is drafted in a which that means the definition of

:22:51. > :22:56.deliberate and unreasonable cooperation is drawn more widely

:22:57. > :23:01.than we intended. Covering cooperation with the local housing

:23:02. > :23:07.authority in the exercise of their functions under the prevention and

:23:08. > :23:14.relief duties. Amendments 11, 12 and 13 make it

:23:15. > :23:17.clear that the provisions only apply when the applicants refusal to

:23:18. > :23:22.cooperate relates specifically to the steps set out in their

:23:23. > :23:32.personalised plan. And finally, I turn to amendments 20 and 21. Clause

:23:33. > :23:34.12 of the bill amend article 3 of the homelessness suitability of

:23:35. > :23:38.accommodation, England order 2012. Article 3 currently requires that

:23:39. > :23:44.when a local housing authority aproves an offer in the private

:23:45. > :23:46.rented sector for those in priority need under the main homelessness

:23:47. > :23:52.duty, additional checks are required to assure that the property is in a

:23:53. > :23:58.reasonable physical condition, is safe and a well-managed property.

:23:59. > :24:04.These additional checks are extended by clause 12, to those defined as

:24:05. > :24:08.vulnerable people and to secured accommodation in the private rented

:24:09. > :24:14.sector under the new homeless prevention and relief duties. Now,

:24:15. > :24:19.Madame Deputy Speaker, in committee I heard some concern from both sides

:24:20. > :24:24.of the House that this protection did not go wider. In particular the

:24:25. > :24:28.honourable lady for Westminster North suggested other types of

:24:29. > :24:33.applicant should be afforded this protection, including families with

:24:34. > :24:40.children or pregnant women. These concerns were also echoed by my

:24:41. > :24:44.honourable friend for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Colchester, Northampton

:24:45. > :24:50.South and Chippenham, who all raised this as a very real and pertinent

:24:51. > :24:55.concern. Now, I have listened very carefully to the points made. And I

:24:56. > :24:59.am now pleased to be able to bring forward aamendments 20 and 21 to

:25:00. > :25:04.provide that these additional checks are made for all those with a

:25:05. > :25:09.priority need where the local housing authority secures private

:25:10. > :25:19.rented sector property under the new prevention and relief duties.

:25:20. > :25:25.This has been an unusually long list of amendments for report stage of a

:25:26. > :25:28.a private member's bill I acknowledge but I have worked

:25:29. > :25:33.closely with my honourable friend for Harrow East. As I have said

:25:34. > :25:35.before, from the local government sector, and homeless charities as

:25:36. > :25:41.well had to ensure that this bill is fit for purpose and I want to again

:25:42. > :25:48.thank them for all of their efforts putting together now what I think is

:25:49. > :25:52.a very, very strong package within my honourable friend's private bill.

:25:53. > :25:58.The question is that amendment 10 be made. Andy Slaughter. Thank you very

:25:59. > :26:05.much, Madame Deputy Speaker and, again, we have got a whole series of

:26:06. > :26:12.amendments but the purpose of those being to either clarify or to give

:26:13. > :26:18.certainty where it is required, to certain provisions within the bill.

:26:19. > :26:22.And in some cases to either correct drafting or to extend the am bet

:26:23. > :26:27.causes. None of these gives any problem and

:26:28. > :26:31.I'm pleased to say having just reread the briefings, we have had

:26:32. > :26:34.both the local government side and the charity side that although some

:26:35. > :26:38.are supported more by one side than the other, as one would expect, they

:26:39. > :26:44.are all, as the minister said, in agreement they should go forward and

:26:45. > :26:48.go forward as a package: So we have on the one hand amendment 10, which

:26:49. > :26:55.makes clear when interim duty comes to answered, which is something I

:26:56. > :27:02.know that has been anxious to have certainty on.

:27:03. > :27:06.And we have amendments 20 and 21, which as he mentioned were

:27:07. > :27:35.particularly cold for things from Matt White by which all pirated

:27:36. > :27:43.households are now included rather than just those who are vulnerable.

:27:44. > :27:50.I think that it up at the bottom admission that having dealt with

:27:51. > :27:53.matters which are at or an uptick in, as I said all sides are at least

:27:54. > :27:59.content with them, the other thing they have in common is that they

:28:00. > :28:03.incur costs. I think both particularly amendment turn and run

:28:04. > :28:08.-- 20 and 21 have additional cost and I heard what about that, but

:28:09. > :28:13.when the amendments are passed, but he ought to turn to the matter of

:28:14. > :28:17.course. I hope that means on third reading, because I am assuming what

:28:18. > :28:23.I've heard that the amendments are going to be passed and form part of

:28:24. > :28:29.the Bill in a very few moments' time. And these costs are not going

:28:30. > :28:33.to be negligible, I think obviously the Minister goes into this with his

:28:34. > :28:38.eyes open, but it would be helpful if we can have that update today,

:28:39. > :28:43.and if not, be told when we are going to have it. Because we need

:28:44. > :28:47.not only certainty that this addresses the key points, but also

:28:48. > :28:52.that it will be fully funded. But with those comments, Madam Deputy

:28:53. > :28:59.Speaker, I don't think Aneeta Prem on the debate, because we have as I

:29:00. > :29:03.indicated earlier gone through these not only ourselves and with the

:29:04. > :29:08.Minister responsible, but also with the officials, and I think we have a

:29:09. > :29:16.pretty keen understanding as to why these amendments are now necessary.

:29:17. > :29:21.Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, I am delighted to rise for the last

:29:22. > :29:26.time in report stage in support of this group of amendments. Again, my

:29:27. > :29:32.honourable friend has introduced them in some detail and length, so I

:29:33. > :29:39.will keep my remarks to the pertinent points. Let me start by

:29:40. > :29:43.thanking my honourable friend the Minister and officials for all the

:29:44. > :29:49.work they have put in to get us to the point of these detailed

:29:50. > :29:53.amendments. It has been a long and almost torturous journey, I think

:29:54. > :29:57.everyone would understand, to identify the various different

:29:58. > :30:02.issues in relation to Clause seven, and working very patiently and

:30:03. > :30:08.appropriately with the Local Government Association, with Crisis

:30:09. > :30:13.and particularly Shelter, to resolve the issues so that everyone, as the

:30:14. > :30:18.Member for Hammersmith pointed out, is in support now of the amended

:30:19. > :30:23.Clause seven, as it will be put after these various different

:30:24. > :30:30.amendments are approved. It is important that we wanted to get, as

:30:31. > :30:34.I said earlier a position whereby changing the law, we were not

:30:35. > :30:40.putting priority need families in a worse position than they already

:30:41. > :30:46.have in existing legislation. But to bring forward a position whereby a

:30:47. > :30:51.single homeless people and those not currently owed a statutory duty, I

:30:52. > :30:55.given help and advice and a -- an offer of suitable position on the

:30:56. > :30:59.certainly at the moment in the private sector but it is up to the

:31:00. > :31:05.local authority whether they can find a socially rented property, to

:31:06. > :31:11.provide for such people. So I particularly welcome amendments 20

:31:12. > :31:15.and 21 two Clause 12. As my honourable friend the Minister has

:31:16. > :31:19.pointed out, during the committee stage we had representations not

:31:20. > :31:24.least from the honourable member for Westminster North who kicked off

:31:25. > :31:28.that particular issue, raising the scope of current Clause 12 in

:31:29. > :31:34.relation to suitability of offers in the plan had been there, Madam

:31:35. > :31:38.Deputy Speaker, the local authority will inspect and approve every

:31:39. > :31:46.single offer they are making, to every potential tenant. But I

:31:47. > :31:49.recognise that during the process of scrutiny on the draft Bill, we

:31:50. > :31:55.determined that actually the cost of that for a local authority would be

:31:56. > :32:01.beyond a reasonable position. So we did centre on the position of

:32:02. > :32:09.priority need, and indeed vulnerable people, and I am delighted that the

:32:10. > :32:13.Minister has seen a way to ensure that that has been extended to all

:32:14. > :32:20.those people, particularly pregnant women and other people but are

:32:21. > :32:25.vulnerable. We've all managed to make this part of the Bill sound

:32:26. > :32:28.very technical, but it seems to me that these clauses will basically

:32:29. > :32:32.mean that the quality of private rented homes offered to families

:32:33. > :32:39.will improve, and that is something a great many people would like to

:32:40. > :32:43.see. I thank the honourable member for that intervention. We do not

:32:44. > :32:47.want to be in a position whereby families or individuals which are

:32:48. > :32:51.reaching a crisis point in their lives get put in completely

:32:52. > :32:56.unsuitable accommodation or with rogue landlords who are unsuitable

:32:57. > :32:59.people to be offering accommodation. That is the duty, I believe that

:33:00. > :33:04.local authorities should carry out, and it is quite clear from these

:33:05. > :33:09.amendments that we are proposing that we will get to a position

:33:10. > :33:13.whereby that is collected in society. Ideally, no one would ever

:33:14. > :33:18.be offered unsuitable accommodation, but I think we all recognise that in

:33:19. > :33:25.certain instances that does take place. I also draw attention of to

:33:26. > :33:28.colleagues that Clause seven is all about the deliberate and

:33:29. > :33:36.unreasonable refusal to cooperate by an applicant. This is a balance, it

:33:37. > :33:40.is not a case whereby, and I want to be abundantly clear to people, it is

:33:41. > :33:44.not going to be a case that individuals who are homeless can

:33:45. > :33:49.just turn up to the local housing authority and say "You've got a duty

:33:50. > :33:55.to find me somewhere to live," fold their arms and wait for it to

:33:56. > :33:59.happen. There will be a duty on individuals to make sure that they

:34:00. > :34:05.cooperate with the plan, and carry out their actions under the plan.

:34:06. > :34:09.And if the fact do so, it is possible for the local housing

:34:10. > :34:14.authority to terminate their duty. So there are duties on both sides, I

:34:15. > :34:21.think, here, and that must be the right way forward. But equally, I do

:34:22. > :34:26.not want us to get to a position whereby an applicant is unfairly

:34:27. > :34:31.penalised for some minor discrepancy on the actions. So, for example,

:34:32. > :34:36.where an individual to fail to meet an appointment because they need to

:34:37. > :34:41.go to the doctor or hospital or some other commitment, then it would be

:34:42. > :34:48.unfair and unreasonable for a local authority to penalised the applicant

:34:49. > :34:51.as a result. -- there will be a process therefore of tightening up

:34:52. > :34:56.on the review process, making sure that individuals will receive a

:34:57. > :35:01.written notice, make sure they are given the opportunity to review

:35:02. > :35:05.under any unfair position, and as a result that the strikes the right

:35:06. > :35:11.balance between wanting to ensure that applicants received a service,

:35:12. > :35:15.help and advice, and an offer in the private sector or the socially

:35:16. > :35:18.rented sector, with the provision they've got to take actions

:35:19. > :35:22.themselves. So I am grateful to the Minister for his time and

:35:23. > :35:26.forbearance, particularly on this issue which has occupied a

:35:27. > :35:32.substantial amount of time for all of us concern. But I think a

:35:33. > :35:38.compromise that has been reached will improve the Bill yet further.

:35:39. > :35:43.-- the compromise. And ensure that all people with a priority need and

:35:44. > :35:48.indeed those who are secured private rented accommodation under this new

:35:49. > :35:53.homelessness prevention duties will have those additional suitability

:35:54. > :35:56.checks carried out by local housing authority, to ensure the property is

:35:57. > :36:03.safe and well managed, and on that basis, I trust that all honourable

:36:04. > :36:06.members will support these and the other amendments that the Minister

:36:07. > :36:12.has put forward, so that we have a suitable package of measures to

:36:13. > :36:17.present to the other place, and so that they will see the wisdom of our

:36:18. > :36:21.lengthy debates and close scrutiny of these particular proposals as a

:36:22. > :36:30.package of measures that together actually improve the lot of those

:36:31. > :36:38.people that are homeless. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I would just

:36:39. > :36:45.like to respond to several of the matters that have been raised by

:36:46. > :36:51.honourable colleagues. The honourable gentleman for Hammersmith

:36:52. > :36:58.mentioned the work with the LGA around the amendment ten, and

:36:59. > :37:04.certainly he is correct on that as he is in relation to the amendments

:37:05. > :37:14.20 and 21 in relation to concerns that were put -- put in place in

:37:15. > :37:18.relation to concerns as regards charities, particularly Shelter. The

:37:19. > :37:23.honourable gentleman showed that he is extremely sharp as well in his

:37:24. > :37:28.comments, when he raised the point about cost and the comments that I

:37:29. > :37:32.made earlier this morning about when I would bring forward further

:37:33. > :37:40.details of the additional cost incurred due to amendments that have

:37:41. > :37:48.been made to the Bill this morning, indeed, my intention was to bring

:37:49. > :37:53.those costs to the House once the Bill had been amended, and I will

:37:54. > :37:58.not tease the honourable gentleman any further, but I will just in a

:37:59. > :38:06.few minutes I hope be expressing further detail in relation to costs.

:38:07. > :38:09.Now, before I conclude, Madam Deputy Speaker, I do just want to collect

:38:10. > :38:14.one point that I have made this morning, when we dealt with the

:38:15. > :38:18.second group of amendments, and I was responding to the points made by

:38:19. > :38:26.the honourable member for Sheffield South East. He did raise the issue

:38:27. > :38:31.of the code of guidance, and the code of guidance being put before

:38:32. > :38:36.the House. Now, I inadvertently expressed that the code of guidance

:38:37. > :38:42.would be put before the House; now, I am sure, going back to all those

:38:43. > :38:46.long committee sessions, the honourable gentleman for Sheffield

:38:47. > :38:52.South East will recall that it is in the legislation that the code of

:38:53. > :38:57.practice will come before the House. Rather than the code of guidance.

:38:58. > :39:01.But what I would do is seek to reassure the honourable gentleman,

:39:02. > :39:08.straying into territory that might be quite risky there again, but I

:39:09. > :39:13.would like to reassure the honourable gentleman by saying that

:39:14. > :39:16.certainly we would welcome his committees -- committees involvement

:39:17. > :39:22.in relation to the consultation process around the revised code of

:39:23. > :39:29.guidance that will come out of the provisions within this Bill. Thank

:39:30. > :39:33.you for the clarification, I think the committee will try and play a

:39:34. > :39:36.constructive role and welcome the code of guidance coming to us, and

:39:37. > :39:48.we will as quickly as possible look at it and get comments back to him.

:39:49. > :39:53.I thank the honourable gentleman as ever during this process, he has

:39:54. > :39:59.actually sought to use a very constructive tone to the way in

:40:00. > :40:07.which this debate has been undertaken, and some pragmatism in

:40:08. > :40:12.how he with -- we have been able to all work together, and that has gone

:40:13. > :40:17.as well for the opposition front bench. It has not been easy at

:40:18. > :40:21.times, but there has been a pragmatic approach to make sure that

:40:22. > :40:29.we get this legislation into a good place, and get this legislation to

:40:30. > :40:39.the other end of this corridor, that will encourage noble Lords to

:40:40. > :40:43.support, not just the amendments that have been laid today, but the

:40:44. > :40:47.overall Bill is a significant package towards helping people that

:40:48. > :40:53.are at risk of becoming homeless or do indeed become homeless. The

:40:54. > :40:56.question is that amendment ten be made, As many as are of the opinion,

:40:57. > :41:02.say "aye". To the contrary, "no". I think the ayes have it. We believe

:41:03. > :41:07.we will take Government amendments 11 to 21 together, Minister to move?

:41:08. > :41:10.The question is that Government amendments 11 to 21 be made, As many

:41:11. > :41:16.as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the contrary, "no". I think the ayes

:41:17. > :41:24.have it. Consideration completed, third reading what day? The question

:41:25. > :41:35.is that the Bill be now read the third time. Bob Blackman.

:41:36. > :41:42.Thank you, I beg to move the Bill now be read a third time and, if I

:41:43. > :41:47.can say, it is a very proud moment for me.

:41:48. > :41:53.Hear, hear, hear. To reach this stage of the

:41:54. > :42:01.proceedings. It has been a very long road to get to this stage. When I

:42:02. > :42:06.was drawn out of the hat at number 2 in the ballot, and considered what

:42:07. > :42:12.to take on I was minded that I wanted to take something that would

:42:13. > :42:18.make a change to literally thousands of people across this country.

:42:19. > :42:26.Little did I know how much work and effort would actually be involved in

:42:27. > :42:34.getting this bill to this stage. And since the expert panel was convene

:42:35. > :42:39.bid Crisis back in the summer of 2015, through the select committee

:42:40. > :42:45.inquiry last summer, which many of us in the House participated in and

:42:46. > :42:52.contributed, plus the presledge slative scrutiny that the select

:42:53. > :42:58.committee consubjectinged in September, of the draft bill, and

:42:59. > :43:02.finally, of course, the unprecedented several committee

:43:03. > :43:12.session was some 15 hours of debate at committee stage, I think it is

:43:13. > :43:19.fair to that there has never been private member's bill that has been

:43:20. > :43:24.so well informed, and examined. This is a unique private member's bill in

:43:25. > :43:28.respect that it has been the subject of a select committee inquiry and

:43:29. > :43:36.ror, subjected to prelegislative scrutiny. I believe, Madame Deputy

:43:37. > :43:44.Speaker, it is the longest with 13 clauses, some 18 pages of detailed

:43:45. > :43:47.Lealifano ease, and probably will be the most expensive and I look

:43:48. > :43:53.forward to some good news from my honourable friend the minister, in a

:43:54. > :43:57.few minute's time, for additional funds allocated in addition to the

:43:58. > :44:01.?48 million he has already set out. And clearly, at this point, I would

:44:02. > :44:07.like to thank a number of people who've got us to this stage and also

:44:08. > :44:13.organisations. It is clear that whilst I may be the

:44:14. > :44:18.sponsor and leader of the bill, it is a team effort. So the

:44:19. > :44:22.contribution of the communities and local government select committee

:44:23. > :44:25.and its chai, the honourable member for Sheffield South East has been

:44:26. > :44:33.invaluable. I think it is fair to say we could not have got to this

:44:34. > :44:36.will stage without that output N particular, the presledgiative

:44:37. > :44:43.scrutiny provides an absolute example that we should all consider,

:44:44. > :44:47.should we, any of us, be fortunate enough in the future private

:44:48. > :44:49.member's bill ballots. Committee members have continued to offer

:44:50. > :44:56.their expertise to the bill committee and I thank them for their

:44:57. > :44:59.time and constructive support. I would obviously place on record at

:45:00. > :45:10.this point in time my thanks and appreciation to all the members of

:45:11. > :45:12.the bill committee for their hard, dedicated work, asking constructive

:45:13. > :45:17.questions, scrutinising the proposed legislation in detail and I believe

:45:18. > :45:24.that one of the reasons why we have some 21 government amendments tabled

:45:25. > :45:27.and passed today is a direct consequence of the very detailed

:45:28. > :45:32.work that has been done, to ensure that we get this bill absolutely

:45:33. > :45:35.right, in the right place. But, Madame Deputy Speaker, I do think

:45:36. > :45:41.that bills such as this should not be left to a lottery. And I'm minded

:45:42. > :45:47.that the recommendations from the procedure committee, of which I have

:45:48. > :45:53.the honour of serving on, recommend that in future that the first four

:45:54. > :45:58.private members' bills be subject to a bidding process through the

:45:59. > :46:01.backbench business committee so we ensure that bills that have

:46:02. > :46:05.cross-party support are well-reserved, can get to this

:46:06. > :46:08.House, rather than depending on the lottery procedure that we currently

:46:09. > :46:13.have. I would also like to thank,

:46:14. > :46:20.particular thanks to Crisis. They've supported me from the start and,

:46:21. > :46:24.indeed facilitated consultations right across the #350es, to make

:46:25. > :46:29.sure that we deliver this bill in a proper state.

:46:30. > :46:35.There's clearly been a huge amount of interest from across the country

:46:36. > :46:39.a whole host of groups and I would particularly like to thank the Local

:46:40. > :46:43.Government Association, the individual local authorities,

:46:44. > :46:48.crisis, obviously, shelter, St Mungoess. The Nags a Landlords

:46:49. > :46:52.Association. The Regulars dense Landlords Association, and many

:46:53. > :46:57.others who have written to me or spoken to me about this bill. -- The

:46:58. > :47:00.National Landlords Association. And I know members across the House

:47:01. > :47:04.willp want to mention their own charities and help groups which

:47:05. > :47:08.provide much-needed help and assistance to rough sleepers and

:47:09. > :47:12.people who are homeless but all the advice I have received, the

:47:13. > :47:17.challenge and insights from working with the very people that are at the

:47:18. > :47:22.sharp end have enabled me to ensure that we get this very strong bill

:47:23. > :47:28.into the best-possible place, for us to send it to the House of Lords

:47:29. > :47:32.and, I believe most importantly, it will have a long-lasting and

:47:33. > :47:38.critical impact to people who suffer from the crisis of being homeless.

:47:39. > :47:43.I would, of course, like to thank my honourable friend, the Minister for

:47:44. > :47:46.Local Government, the honourable friend from Nuneaton for supporting,

:47:47. > :47:51.championing the bill from the outset and ensuring that we've got the full

:47:52. > :47:57.support of the Government. Not only has he committed a considerable

:47:58. > :48:00.amount of his own personal time and his ministerial time, but also

:48:01. > :48:04.ensured that we had the resources from the officials, to ensure that

:48:05. > :48:10.we got the bill to the absolute position that we are in. He's

:48:11. > :48:15.followed through on his commitment to fund the new burdens, associated

:48:16. > :48:19.with the bill and as I've said, the Government will be providing ?48

:48:20. > :48:23.million for funding for local government to implement the new

:48:24. > :48:28.duties in the bill. Now clearly we do not know as yet whether that be

:48:29. > :48:32.sufficient to meet the new duties under the bill. I recognise that and

:48:33. > :48:37.I'm delighted the minister has committed to reviewing this figure

:48:38. > :48:40.in relation to not only the amendments we pass today but also

:48:41. > :48:46.the new burdens that we are placing on local authorities. So, I thank my

:48:47. > :48:52.honourable friend the minister and all the officials for their work in

:48:53. > :48:57.getting the bill to this point. I would also like to thanks on the

:48:58. > :49:01.record, my parliamentary assistpant, Martine Martin.

:49:02. > :49:06.Hear, hear. For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of meeting

:49:07. > :49:10.her, she has ensured that we have kept the whole process in a smooth

:49:11. > :49:19.manner. Her calmness has kept me calm. And I owe a particular debt of

:49:20. > :49:24.gratitude to her. I would also like to thank the honourable member for

:49:25. > :49:30.Hammersmith. Hear, hear. It comes hard, I know, at times... Just the

:49:31. > :49:35.once And all the members of the committee on the Opposition side for

:49:36. > :49:41.ensuring the bill has been well-scrutinised and in good shape

:49:42. > :49:45.ahead of report today. But equally importantly, I would like to thank

:49:46. > :49:50.all the honourable members who are in the House today to wish Godspeed

:49:51. > :49:55.to this bill so we get it on the statute books as fast as possible.

:49:56. > :50:00.Many were here during second reading and we had some 39 individual

:50:01. > :50:04.speeches at second reading, way back in the 28th October. Many of you

:50:05. > :50:09.have followed the progress of the bill with interest and many have

:50:10. > :50:14.subjected me to appropriate scrutiny and challenge on the details of the

:50:15. > :50:18.bill and as the honourable member for Hammersmith pointed out, I have

:50:19. > :50:22.rapidly become an eggs spert in homelessness and housing law, even

:50:23. > :50:26.though I have no background in law whatsoever. -- expert.

:50:27. > :50:31.Shame. But I thank everyone for their time,

:50:32. > :50:38.effort and dedication to the bill. But, we must remember that this is a

:50:39. > :50:42.process and above all else, we arismenting a bill that changes the

:50:43. > :50:47.law, but it is -- we arismenting a bill that changes the law -- we are

:50:48. > :50:52.implementing a bill which changes the law, but it is the members of

:50:53. > :50:55.society who are rough sleeping or faced with homelessness, that must

:50:56. > :50:59.get the home and support they need and deserve. I have said from the

:51:00. > :51:04.word go that one rough sleeper on our streets I regard as a national

:51:05. > :51:09.disgrace. The fact we have so many is something we must put an end to.

:51:10. > :51:14.Equally, I have said from the word go, we are not in the position

:51:15. > :51:18.whereby this bill, which hopefully will be become an act, will deliver

:51:19. > :51:22.any new housing units and that is part and parcel of a new strategy

:51:23. > :51:27.that I look forward to the Government pursuing. What it does do

:51:28. > :51:32.is change the law and the requirements on local authorities to

:51:33. > :51:37.ensure that they deliver help and advice to vulnerable people that

:51:38. > :51:42.need that at a crisis point in their lives. It is also a massive culture

:51:43. > :51:47.change for local authorities and we should not underestimate how much of

:51:48. > :51:50.a culture change it will be. I passionately believe that people

:51:51. > :51:55.enter public service to help people, not to deny them service. And at the

:51:56. > :51:59.moment, for 40 years, we have routinely, at local authority level,

:52:00. > :52:05.denied people, vulnerable people service and help and advice and that

:52:06. > :52:10.has to come to an end. That will be a big shock for most local housing

:52:11. > :52:14.authorities when the bill becomes law and the various different

:52:15. > :52:19.regulations are laid. But the key point here is: We are aiming to

:52:20. > :52:24.ensure that people face the prospect of having nowhere to live. We move

:52:25. > :52:29.on from an approach where homelessness is always a crisis to

:52:30. > :52:34.one where local Government has the duty and ability to work with people

:52:35. > :52:40.as early as possible, so they never get to a position of being homeless.

:52:41. > :52:43.So, we can help them tackle their housing issues, their welfare

:52:44. > :52:50.issues, before the crisis point is reached. So, I sincerely hope that

:52:51. > :52:54.the work we've done over the last year will make a significant

:52:55. > :53:00.difference and I firmly believe it will. So, I end, as I said, I'm

:53:01. > :53:07.extremely proud to be standing here today, with the support of the whole

:53:08. > :53:13.House. Hear hear. In bidding the Bill, God speed, a safe passage

:53:14. > :53:17.through the other place and ending homelessness for once and for all.

:53:18. > :53:20.The question is that the Bill be now read a third time, Andy Slaughter.

:53:21. > :53:28.Thank you very much, Madame Deputy Speaker. Let me begin where the

:53:29. > :53:35.honourable gentleman who sponsored the bill left off in wishing this

:53:36. > :53:40.bill every success in completing its stages as it leaves here and goes to

:53:41. > :53:46.the other place. And, echoing some of his thanks. But let me start by

:53:47. > :53:55.thapging him because the effort that he has put in to this bill has been

:53:56. > :53:59.extraordinary. I suspect that how long he decides it stay in this

:54:00. > :54:03.House but whenever he departs this will be one of the things that he is

:54:04. > :54:09.most proud and this will be lasting testimony to the work he has done

:54:10. > :54:12.and I'm sure many of us are very envious of that in some ways, that

:54:13. > :54:17.he will have that but it is well-deserved. He has put the time

:54:18. > :54:25.and effort and hours in and had to, probably, I suspect now he was

:54:26. > :54:28.thinking - it is all worth it but I suspect there were times he doubted

:54:29. > :54:32.that. I would also say, the bill would not have got where it has got

:54:33. > :54:35.without Government support and that needs to be acknowledged as well, as

:54:36. > :54:40.well as our support and that of others, but I think, I must say that

:54:41. > :54:43.this minister has been particularly aciduous in pushing it through and

:54:44. > :54:48.I'm sure that he, although he may or may not reveal this when he comes to

:54:49. > :54:53.speak, has had equally some difficulty with his colleagues and

:54:54. > :54:58.other departments in doing that. And I think the sponsor will recognise

:54:59. > :55:03.his personal devotion to it as well and count that as a success. But let

:55:04. > :55:09.me extend to to all members who have been involved on both sides. But, it

:55:10. > :55:13.has been helpful to me and particular thanks to the Labour

:55:14. > :55:18.committees of the committee who are behind me, Dulwich and West Norwood

:55:19. > :55:22.and Westminster North and indeed the honourable member for Chester who

:55:23. > :55:27.have absolutely shared the process and the burden with me and have

:55:28. > :55:33.brought their very considerable expert ease to this, but I'm sure

:55:34. > :55:39.the Minster responsible will say the same about members on their side.

:55:40. > :55:44.It's been a good session. We must also acknowledge - both because they

:55:45. > :55:49.have stood up strongly for their own interests but also in the end they

:55:50. > :55:53.wanted the bill to succeed and get through the various interest groups

:55:54. > :55:57.- landlords, charities, but let's not forget local Government. Because

:55:58. > :56:01.it is local Government who are going to have to execute the provision of

:56:02. > :56:06.this bill on whom the burdens fall and who know more than anybody else

:56:07. > :56:13.the difficulties, particularly given the levels of funding and the demand

:56:14. > :56:16.that there is in dealing with homelessness, and those officers and

:56:17. > :56:22.councillors who are at the sharp end of this, I think also deserve our

:56:23. > :56:27.thanks. They do fail - some authorities have got lamentable

:56:28. > :56:31.records in relation to these issues but many do their very best, under

:56:32. > :56:32.difficult circumstances and I know that's true of my own kournings I'm

:56:33. > :56:44.sure it is of many others. So I say this is a collective

:56:45. > :56:48.effort, and the last mention I will give is to the select committee

:56:49. > :56:55.because I think that has formed the basis on which this Bill can go

:56:56. > :56:59.forward. And it has as the Member for Harrow he is said, been

:57:00. > :57:05.something of a template for the way that particularly complex private

:57:06. > :57:11.members bills like this can go forward. -- harrow is. So I hope

:57:12. > :57:15.like him that this can be a president, and this will require a

:57:16. > :57:22.change not just in the way of the House's procedure is but a change in

:57:23. > :57:32.the way some of our colleagues approach private members bills as

:57:33. > :57:38.well. Because we've discussed it for so long, it is quite easy to

:57:39. > :57:44.actually cross over what the Bill does, but it does two or three

:57:45. > :57:51.issues which are very fundamental. It introduces the prevention dude,

:57:52. > :57:54.and although as has been said, it is something which the previous Labour

:57:55. > :57:58.Government encouraged by its legislation which I know -- and

:57:59. > :58:04.which I know that the best practising Government also

:58:05. > :58:09.encourages, and that is a very major change in the way homelessness is

:58:10. > :58:15.addressed. It extends the relief due to to anybody who is currently

:58:16. > :58:19.homeless. And clearly the assistance which is to be given to the

:58:20. > :58:29.non-priority homeless cannot by reasons of resources be as is those

:58:30. > :58:35.priority, that this can unfold. And let us not forget also the duty to

:58:36. > :58:39.cooperate, there was quite extensive discussion about this, and perhaps

:58:40. > :58:47.doesn't go as far as some of us would like a Mike with an amendment

:58:48. > :58:52.in the late committee, in requiring that, because I think that we all

:58:53. > :58:56.have, local authorities cannot avoid their responsibilities, we know that

:58:57. > :59:00.the homelessness sector, the charities, have been king and

:59:01. > :59:10.perfecting the way they did have, and sometimes some of service,

:59:11. > :59:15.edition, do a good job. Read -- we believed everyone to step up to the

:59:16. > :59:24.plate on this, we are pleased to see it but I hope we hear more that

:59:25. > :59:34.because very easy for people to see these things are too difficult. That

:59:35. > :59:41.people have now to help us, they have to come out, Campbell and from

:59:42. > :59:48.charities and local government, everybody has to do their bit. So

:59:49. > :59:56.this is a significant piece of legislation going forward. I'm not

:59:57. > :00:02.going to repeat what I said in the opening debate here, in terms of

:00:03. > :00:10.what remains to be done. Let me just say two things. The first thing is,

:00:11. > :00:14.what I would like to see in chapter one of the White Paper is the same

:00:15. > :00:20.commitment from the Government is why right honourable friend gave

:00:21. > :00:25.before Christmas about a future Labour Government, is that rough

:00:26. > :00:29.sleeping will be eliminated over the course of a single parliament. We

:00:30. > :00:40.saw those shocking figures earlier this week, 4134 people sleeping

:00:41. > :00:43.rough in England, 16% increase. 134% increase over 2010. And I could not

:00:44. > :00:48.agree more with the Member for Harrow East when he says that one

:00:49. > :00:55.person in that situation is one person to many, and 4134 is a

:00:56. > :00:58.national disgrace. But it is a manageable figure. There are many,

:00:59. > :01:05.many other aspects to homelessness which are also get much worse of it.

:01:06. > :01:11.If one looks at statutorily homeless households, they have increased by

:01:12. > :01:17.almost 50% since 2010 crap and understanding at just under 60,000.

:01:18. > :01:20.Problems overcrowding, housing conditions are all need to be

:01:21. > :01:27.tackled. But the first stop has to be dealing dealing with in the

:01:28. > :01:31.street homelessness, and I would particularly look at what it in that

:01:32. > :01:38.White Paper Web adds up over whether that issue is dealt with. Because

:01:39. > :01:43.that would, but if that is, but that would be an effective way of dealing

:01:44. > :01:49.with the points that through the process of this Bill, where we say,

:01:50. > :02:00.yes, legislation is great, it is not actually going to of itself build

:02:01. > :02:09.one more house for one more person. So, that is what I would plead with

:02:10. > :02:14.the Minister to do, and in doing so are up -- I applaud him in taking

:02:15. > :02:16.the lead on that, but he would be the first person to say

:02:17. > :02:24.congratulations at the Government do go ahead with that. Final thing I

:02:25. > :02:29.would say is there are so many aspects that need to be dealt with

:02:30. > :02:35.to start tackling homelessness, but we could think that it is just too

:02:36. > :02:47.much. But I was impressed by what -- the briefing that Shelter is another

:02:48. > :02:50.be able to help people under new duties, councils were significant

:02:51. > :02:56.levels of existing published this will require not only additional

:02:57. > :03:02.resources but adequate supply of accessible, in the social, private

:03:03. > :03:06.rented sector. That is self-evident that two things that are top of

:03:07. > :03:11.their wish list, reversed the freeze on local housing allowance, and an

:03:12. > :03:16.indefinite suspension of the full sale of high-value council homes in

:03:17. > :03:23.areas with high levels of homelessness now, neither of those

:03:24. > :03:27.is going to be check solve the problem, they rendered most

:03:28. > :03:32.effective steps that art, but the two most obvious way in which it is

:03:33. > :03:38.actively making the situation worse. And it is very difficult to accept

:03:39. > :03:41.the Government's wholehearted support for this Bill, but at the

:03:42. > :03:48.same time they are pushing those measures through. And I say this

:03:49. > :03:52.from a very clear personal knowledge, in my own constituency,

:03:53. > :03:59.where, during the time that there was a Conservative council in charge

:04:00. > :04:03.for eight years, homelessness -- social houses were regularly sold

:04:04. > :04:07.when they became vacant. So several hundred individual homes were sold

:04:08. > :04:12.off at market rates rather than being used to rehouse homeless

:04:13. > :04:16.families. Now, if we see, and that has created devastating problems,

:04:17. > :04:20.which we are still suffering the prostitute -- consequences of. If

:04:21. > :04:26.that is replicated on a grand scale across the country, and in my

:04:27. > :04:30.borough that would mean over time 50% of council homes being sold off,

:04:31. > :04:35.then the homelessness situation is going to become a far, far worse

:04:36. > :04:39.situation than it has been. The second point on local housing

:04:40. > :04:42.allowance rates, this is utterly distorting the local housing market

:04:43. > :04:47.and leading to what the Minister and others have said today, they do not

:04:48. > :05:01.want to see people being forced out of central London,

:05:02. > :05:04.being forced altogether, forced out of the south-east altogether,

:05:05. > :05:05.separated entirely from their support networks, their families,

:05:06. > :05:07.sometimes their jobs, their children, their schools -- the

:05:08. > :05:10.children's schools. I'm seeing another disturbing trade -- trend

:05:11. > :05:13.that I hoped never to see occurring, I refer to a case I had in surgery

:05:14. > :05:20.only last week, where landlords are is at rates which are just within

:05:21. > :05:28.local housing and, but doing so letting properties are in an unsafe

:05:29. > :05:30.and a great conflict which had no proper that we were in danger of

:05:31. > :05:37.collapse. Hats and conditions that I thought I would never see in the

:05:38. > :05:41.country. The Government has to come to terms with the effect of its own

:05:42. > :05:45.policy on individual families living in the private sector for that

:05:46. > :05:56.reason. And I begged them to look again at the freeze on local's

:05:57. > :06:00.housed bounce rate persons from Senator and let me forget -- return

:06:01. > :06:10.finally to say this Bill is a good Bill. We were to its further stages

:06:11. > :06:15.in the other we will do we can to assist it. And to ensure that it is

:06:16. > :06:19.enacted. We wish to see, and I am still looking forward to the

:06:20. > :06:23.Minister's comments in relation to that extra funding, and I know there

:06:24. > :06:25.are people in council finance departments all over the country who

:06:26. > :06:34.are hanging on his every word for that. So let us celebrate the Bill

:06:35. > :06:40.today, but that is all so be aware of how much we need to do if we are

:06:41. > :06:43.to tackle one of the worst crisis is -- rises in homelessness certainly

:06:44. > :06:49.in my political lifetime, and one of the worst riots in -- on our

:06:50. > :06:54.society. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise to congratulate my

:06:55. > :07:00.honourable friend for Harrow East on getting so close, and relatively

:07:01. > :07:03.speedily, but what I think is interesting is that most of our

:07:04. > :07:08.constituents will not understand that private members bills are

:07:09. > :07:14.really hard to get to the stage. And very few make it. So I think he has

:07:15. > :07:20.done incredibly well. Obviously from what he said earlier, with a lot of

:07:21. > :07:25.help from an awful lot of people, not least a couple of the members

:07:26. > :07:30.opposite, he praised. I think this is a cross-party working, to help

:07:31. > :07:36.vulnerable people out there, is one of the most important that we as is

:07:37. > :07:40.of Parliament that he is fortunate enough to be drawn hard enough the

:07:41. > :07:46.ballot to be given this opportunity to bring something into law.

:07:47. > :07:52.Homelessness is very difficult. I would have, as may be some members

:07:53. > :07:58.but not many in the chamber will remember, the original programme

:07:59. > :08:05.Cathy come home,. So we have progressed hugely in terms of not

:08:06. > :08:11.having those sorts of problems appearing on our streets today. I

:08:12. > :08:17.think the honourable member for Hammersmith, who spoke earlier, talk

:08:18. > :08:22.and -- talk about private rented landlords, who, I think this is a

:08:23. > :08:25.bigger problem in London than places like Mid Derbyshire, we don't have

:08:26. > :08:30.the sorts of landlocked, they are better sorted out I think by local

:08:31. > :08:38.authorities in places like publisher and they are in them, I think it is

:08:39. > :08:44.a much harder market in London to be able to focus on. -- places like Mid

:08:45. > :08:46.Derbyshire. But I would like to focus on something else, women are

:08:47. > :08:50.one of the most vulnerable groups when they are out on the streets,

:08:51. > :08:54.they are very often going out because they have been abused by

:08:55. > :09:00.their partners or husbands or whoever. It is a very difficult

:09:01. > :09:05.situation, when a vulnerable young woman or any age woman is thrown out

:09:06. > :09:10.on the streets or choose to leave, and goes as rough, and I do have

:09:11. > :09:15.experience of this with a family member, who had to because she was

:09:16. > :09:19.being beaten up very severely, to the point where she ran away and set

:09:20. > :09:26.out on the street and went back because nowhere else to go or so she

:09:27. > :09:30.thought. She eventually went back to her family. But it was a very

:09:31. > :09:35.difficult situation, if you are in London and you are vulnerable like

:09:36. > :09:38.that, it doesn't matter where you are, it depends where you're support

:09:39. > :09:43.mechanism is, to be able to pick you up and help you out in that

:09:44. > :09:48.situation. But some people have nowhere to go, and it may be due to

:09:49. > :09:56.being in care as a child, and latterly aerial, and we know as

:09:57. > :10:00.constituency MPs have mentally and are out there, who write to us on a

:10:01. > :10:05.regular basis on a huge range of issues, that they write to us

:10:06. > :10:16.because they do not nowhere else to go. And so the the most vulnerable

:10:17. > :10:23.people almost at other reasons. And in the east talk about all that

:10:24. > :10:27.helped him in prepared this Bill. -- honourable member for Harrow East. I

:10:28. > :10:37.would like to picture it to many other charities I have worked with

:10:38. > :10:44.at the end of the show of art vulnerable people, and I commend

:10:45. > :10:49.them for the above. In addition to not only helps vulnerable people and

:10:50. > :10:52.houses them overnight and for some is extended periods, but helps them

:10:53. > :10:58.with getting additional skills so that they can eventually get a job,

:10:59. > :11:03.as well as housed, because very often the people who are out there

:11:04. > :11:08.on the streets and are homeless don't have a job, because they have

:11:09. > :11:15.missed out corruption. At the heart at this time of year the city centre

:11:16. > :11:20.churches have cut the two up and that week so that there are seven

:11:21. > :11:26.chapters submitting this, so that people do not have do sleep out in

:11:27. > :11:32.this really cold weather that we are experiencing at the moment. -- seven

:11:33. > :11:41.churches submitted -- supporting this. Even the cathedral in Derby

:11:42. > :11:48.has opened -- has opened it is. -- opened its doors.

:11:49. > :11:55.The YMCA have been going for many, many years and to help particularly

:11:56. > :12:00.young people who are homeless, but not exclusively. I am sure all of

:12:01. > :12:06.these organisations will really appreciate this bill coming into

:12:07. > :12:10.power, into law, and I think it's something that my honourable friend

:12:11. > :12:15.said he felt very proud, standing up here, talking about it and getting

:12:16. > :12:20.so close. So he should, he should really take the praise that he

:12:21. > :12:24.deserves, because this is tackling a problem that many people would have

:12:25. > :12:27.liked to have tackled, and I am very pleased that this Conservative

:12:28. > :12:33.government is supporting him. One of the things, when women are out on

:12:34. > :12:37.the streets, they are more vulnerable, there are fewer places,

:12:38. > :12:42.I think, where they feel safe to ask for help, because it is

:12:43. > :12:45.predominantly men. I remember very clearly walking through the centre

:12:46. > :12:51.of Derby one evening after I had been to a council meeting, and I

:12:52. > :12:53.don't generally give money to beggars on the streets, because I

:12:54. > :12:58.feel that I would rather give the money to a charity who will help

:12:59. > :13:03.them. But actually this particular woman came up to me and asked me,

:13:04. > :13:09.she said, I'm in the middle of my period, I have no money, and I can't

:13:10. > :13:13.buy any Tampax. I had never actually thought about that, and I thought,

:13:14. > :13:18.actually, I will give her some money for that, because that is something

:13:19. > :13:20.that every woman will appreciate and understand, that it is very

:13:21. > :13:25.difficult if you are on the street and have no money and you have a

:13:26. > :13:29.period. I think that is one of the things that maybe we forget about.

:13:30. > :13:35.So as I say, IDG of the money. It went on that or whether she bought

:13:36. > :13:44.drugs, I will never know, but I hope that it was a genuine call for help.

:13:45. > :13:50.This poor young woman did look freezing cold and did need help from

:13:51. > :13:55.people, and I hope that this bill today will help. I mentioned earlier

:13:56. > :14:02.also this family from borrow wash, who found themselves homeless, they

:14:03. > :14:08.were in private rented house that burned down, and they had no ensure

:14:09. > :14:12.it's because they were very poor. They both work, they have four

:14:13. > :14:16.children, and they don't have any savings to fall back on, so they

:14:17. > :14:19.have received some money through crowdfunding, which has helped them

:14:20. > :14:24.get back on their feet, but they are the sort of people who have a

:14:25. > :14:26.problem with private landlords, because apparently it is the

:14:27. > :14:46.landlord but if they have... All the council were

:14:47. > :14:51.interested in was the children being abused, are vulnerable children? All

:14:52. > :14:55.children who are homeless are vulnerable, but so were the parents,

:14:56. > :15:00.and I did not feel the mechanisms were in place. Eventually Derby City

:15:01. > :15:04.Council, who I would not normally praise for very much at all, did

:15:05. > :15:08.step in and help this couple with their children. So I am absolutely

:15:09. > :15:12.delighted now that we can have this bill, I wholeheartedly supported, I

:15:13. > :15:16.think the honourable member for Harrow East and many others have

:15:17. > :15:21.worked incredibly hard to get it to this point where it will be on the

:15:22. > :15:24.statute books, and I would like to commend him for his hard work and

:15:25. > :15:33.support this bill and support the Minister. Clive Betts. Thank you,

:15:34. > :15:37.Madam Deputy Speaker. This is a time for congratulations, and I shall not

:15:38. > :15:42.disappoint, but I will say at the beginning that we should still

:15:43. > :15:44.remember that tonight in a rich country like the United Kingdom,

:15:45. > :15:52.there will be people sleeping rough on our streets, there will be

:15:53. > :15:57.individual sleeping on sofas that belong to friends, there will be

:15:58. > :16:00.families trying to live with their relatives in overcrowded

:16:01. > :16:04.accommodation. There will be other families living in unacceptable and

:16:05. > :16:09.inadequate interim accommodation. That is the situation. And I think

:16:10. > :16:13.we also just have to be careful not to give the impression that, as a

:16:14. > :16:20.result of this legislation, all these problems will be resolved. It

:16:21. > :16:23.will make a contribution towards solving the homeless problem, but it

:16:24. > :16:29.won't actually solve it. It will help reduce the issue of

:16:30. > :16:34.homelessness, but it will not solve homelessness of itself. But

:16:35. > :16:38.congratulations are dues, particularly to the honourable

:16:39. > :16:44.member for Harrow East, and I think this occasion, yes, my honourable

:16:45. > :16:51.friend the member for Harrow East, I will reciprocate on that basis. I

:16:52. > :16:57.don't think we should underestimate the amount of time, sheer hard work

:16:58. > :17:02.and effort than tea has put into delivering this bill to this stage.

:17:03. > :17:09.And forbearance, there must have been times when he was tearing his

:17:10. > :17:14.hair out! Same situation, but tearing his hair out at the

:17:15. > :17:19.complexities, at the need to try and get different competing forces

:17:20. > :17:23.together to take this forward on a consensus basis, and that is not

:17:24. > :17:27.necessarily been an issue with consensus in the house, but outside,

:17:28. > :17:30.which everyone does not always appreciate. So many thanks and

:17:31. > :17:34.congratulations from the whole of this house, I think, to the

:17:35. > :17:37.honourable member for what he has done. And the cross-party nature,

:17:38. > :17:42.which has extended right through the committee to all members,

:17:43. > :17:49.particularly to the... I thought the minister had gone for a minute! Ear

:17:50. > :17:56.still loss. The Minister has engaged with all members of the committee.

:17:57. > :18:01.-- he is still there. He has worked inside and outside of the committee,

:18:02. > :18:04.he and his officials, and that is really appreciated, even today

:18:05. > :18:07.suggesting ways in which the selected committee can be involved

:18:08. > :18:11.in the code of guidance, that is really constructive and helpful, and

:18:12. > :18:19.I think Jozabed ignition for how the whole of the house can make a

:18:20. > :18:25.contribution. -- and I think shows a recognition. Nevertheless, it has

:18:26. > :18:33.been a constructive and positive role. My honourable friends, for

:18:34. > :18:39.Westminster North, and for Dulwich and West Norwood as well, they have

:18:40. > :18:44.played a role. I want to say little about the select committee, and it

:18:45. > :18:49.is good that as well as the honourable member for Harrow East,

:18:50. > :18:52.and my honourable friend the member for Dulwich and West Norwood, the

:18:53. > :18:56.honourable member for Northampton South has seen this process right

:18:57. > :18:59.the way through, and I think I am right in saying that he was the

:19:00. > :19:02.honourable member who first suggested in select committee that

:19:03. > :19:06.we might look at homelessness as a subject when we began our report.

:19:07. > :19:10.Thinking back to that, it is around a year ago that we started taking

:19:11. > :19:14.evidence as a select committee. Indeed having got the report here, I

:19:15. > :19:19.carry it around with me at all times, of course! We had our first

:19:20. > :19:24.hearing on Monday 14th of March, and I think it is appropriate that on

:19:25. > :19:29.that occasion, some of our first witnesses were from Crisis, St

:19:30. > :19:32.Mungo's's and Shelter, and they certainly have been an important

:19:33. > :19:38.part of this whole process, along with other organisations right the

:19:39. > :19:42.way through. As I mentioned at second reading, the way in which the

:19:43. > :19:47.select committee was involved from the beginning, during the report and

:19:48. > :19:51.the scrutiny, has not only followed precedents but set up residence, and

:19:52. > :20:00.I hope it will be followed on other occasions as well. -- precedence. We

:20:01. > :20:05.will continue to follow the bill with a look at the new review that

:20:06. > :20:09.the Government is doing with the code of practice, the code of

:20:10. > :20:15.guidance and the two new reviews into how we act is operating. I will

:20:16. > :20:18.just finished by saying, Madam Deputy Speaker, we also, when we

:20:19. > :20:22.have the select committee initial report, did look at the wider

:20:23. > :20:26.issues. There is still the issue of a shortage of homes in this country.

:20:27. > :20:30.We are doing our inquiry now into the capacity of the house-building

:20:31. > :20:34.industry, and hopefully as part of that we will be asking ministers

:20:35. > :20:38.questions about the housing white paper, and we do hope it is going to

:20:39. > :20:43.be available. I think the permanent secretary said soon when she came to

:20:44. > :20:48.the select committee two weeks ago. Now, soon has an expandable quality

:20:49. > :20:53.in government circles, but certainly before the end of March, when

:20:54. > :20:56.ministers come on that issue. Because building enough homes,

:20:57. > :20:59.particularly homes that people can afford and afford to rent, it is

:21:00. > :21:05.absolutely crucial to getting the problem dealt with in the long-term.

:21:06. > :21:08.I won't go into issues about the sell-off of high-value council

:21:09. > :21:10.assets, though it was interesting but permanent secretary did mention

:21:11. > :21:17.the word if in relation to that when Ji came to talk to us. Of course,

:21:18. > :21:20.ministers couldn't possibly comment but let's hope there is some

:21:21. > :21:26.substance to the word ever on this occasion. When we looked through our

:21:27. > :21:30.report, Madam Deputy Speaker, we did draw attention to the impact of

:21:31. > :21:38.welfare reform on a cross-party basis. I will just say that we want

:21:39. > :21:43.cooperation in terms of dealing with homelessness. We want authorities to

:21:44. > :21:46.deal with us in tackling homelessness, but it is important

:21:47. > :21:49.that government departments get their act together and understand

:21:50. > :21:54.that policies by one department can affect the operation of policy in

:21:55. > :21:57.another. In particular, we drew attention to welfare reform, but

:21:58. > :22:03.also the issue of the withdrawal of housing benefit to 18-21 -year-olds,

:22:04. > :22:09.and how that can affect people, and we have made suggestions about how

:22:10. > :22:13.people lose a job should not be forced out of their home when they

:22:14. > :22:15.look for another one. We drew attention to the problems of

:22:16. > :22:18.universal credit and the difficulties it can raise, and

:22:19. > :22:22.indeed already is racing in parts of the country, driving up rent

:22:23. > :22:26.arrears. It is a serious potential problem, and we hope ministers will

:22:27. > :22:30.have a look at it to sea of payments direct to landlords, on occasions

:22:31. > :22:38.where tenants are satisfied with it, can try and solve those problems

:22:39. > :22:43.from occurring. One of the major causes as the loss of private rental

:22:44. > :22:46.tenancies. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, with just those caveats of issues

:22:47. > :22:51.that we need to look at further, I very much welcome and support this

:22:52. > :22:55.legislation, really pleased we have got to this stage, and once again

:22:56. > :23:01.many thanks to the honourable member for Harrow East for selecting this

:23:02. > :23:03.subject, and for operating anywhere he has, consensually and

:23:04. > :23:10.collectively, to get the bill to this stage. David Burrowes. Thank

:23:11. > :23:15.you, Madam Deputy Speaker, a great pleasure to be able to follow a

:23:16. > :23:25.whole litany of speech is quite rightly paying for some tribute to

:23:26. > :23:28.my friend, and I am glad that it is a cross-party effort, collaborative

:23:29. > :23:32.across sectors within the sectors that my honourable friend has had to

:23:33. > :23:36.navigate and deal with over the weeks and paid tribute to him. And

:23:37. > :23:40.all those who have been involved in this. But I am also proud that a

:23:41. > :23:45.Conservative Member of Parliament has led the way on this, and forgive

:23:46. > :23:52.me for paying bills, particular tribute to that. I was pleased to

:23:53. > :23:55.encourage my honourable friend down this path when he was picking the

:23:56. > :24:00.bill, one of the most popular Members of Parliament around,

:24:01. > :24:08.included in the Government, it has to be said, everyone wanted to

:24:09. > :24:11.encourage a more easy route, the hand-outs that would have had less

:24:12. > :24:19.effort and less concern, but frankly it wouldn't have got two... I can

:24:20. > :24:25.say that! It wouldn't have got to what is a burning injustice, which

:24:26. > :24:36.is across, as our minister has spoken right -- as our Prime

:24:37. > :24:40.Minister has quite rightly spoken about, a burning issue. It is also

:24:41. > :24:48.one of the last occasions he will be a whip on this bill! Who knows? Who

:24:49. > :24:52.knows? We live in interesting, surprising times.

:24:53. > :24:56.LAUGHTER But what is not a surprise, Madam

:24:57. > :25:00.Deputy Speaker, is the long track record not least of Conservatives

:25:01. > :25:08.tackling homelessness, and I want to speak of my predecessor in Enfield,

:25:09. > :25:14.we had boundary changes then, and perhaps to come, but my predecessor,

:25:15. > :25:19.Ian McClure out, 50 years ago, he helped found the homelessness

:25:20. > :25:31.charity Crisis, to whom we paid GB and in this -- we page but in

:25:32. > :25:34.supporting this bill. -- we pay tribute in supporting this bill. We

:25:35. > :25:47.also paid GB to other charities working in the sector,. -- pay

:25:48. > :25:53.tribute. It is right and fitting that we now have, 40 years on from

:25:54. > :25:56.the last substantive homelessness legislation, an important and

:25:57. > :25:59.significant bill. Across the house we can say it is a good bill that

:26:00. > :26:16.will make prevention Jeremy core duty on all councils.

:26:17. > :26:30.It will mean that we will be a to look at the actors of tripe that

:26:31. > :26:36.homelessness. So my counsel, Enfield, will not have to wait for

:26:37. > :26:43.an eviction notice. My constituent, who was fleeing domestic balance to

:26:44. > :26:50.move to automotive products that accommodation, that would be known

:26:51. > :26:58.to her attacker. That will not have to put up with a response she got,

:26:59. > :27:03.when the housing officer said "What do you expect us to do?" This Bill

:27:04. > :27:08.clearly says to her and others like her that there is a clear duty of

:27:09. > :27:17.prevention for these vulnerable people. The help, and this is a more

:27:18. > :27:23.challenging ask, the challenging cases of an elderly 72-year-old in

:27:24. > :27:33.my constituency who is on -- in unsafe, unsuitable accommodation.

:27:34. > :27:39.There is cold are going through big gaps in the windows, and very little

:27:40. > :27:46.furniture. There is an office chair that is there, and he and his wife

:27:47. > :27:52.have serious health needs. They have been placed in this unsuitable

:27:53. > :27:58.accommodation. He spoke recently to my office manager and said, look, as

:27:59. > :28:02.far as I am concerned my life is not worth living, because I have been

:28:03. > :28:09.sent to what he describes as a hellhole. Whilst there is a lot more

:28:10. > :28:14.that needs to be done in this Bill, I hope it will impose that duty on

:28:15. > :28:21.the issue of inspections, but also in ensuring that in the private

:28:22. > :28:27.sector world, this will not happen again for that 72-year-old and those

:28:28. > :28:32.like them. The Bill will not however do everything to end homelessness,

:28:33. > :28:37.but are structural issues, for another day and another time, the

:28:38. > :28:41.dealing with welfare reform, dealing with matching housing costs and

:28:42. > :28:47.benefits, which will need to be debated and considered. As well as

:28:48. > :28:51.the forthcoming White Paper. And I look forward to this being part of

:28:52. > :29:00.supporting a cross Government homelessness strategy. But in

:29:01. > :29:10.London, we have to work on the book by that deal for an affordable --

:29:11. > :29:17.affordable housing, and -- we have spoken about reviews and assessment,

:29:18. > :29:22.I see the litmus test of this Bill, that those constituents are coming

:29:23. > :29:27.back into the system, I see it as ensuring that it is breaking that

:29:28. > :29:32.cycle of crisis management, to mean it is about early prevention, to

:29:33. > :29:37.help these complexes and individuals into sustainable housing. In

:29:38. > :29:41.conclusion, Iain Macleod in 1967 spoke at a candlelight vigil in Hyde

:29:42. > :29:46.Park to raise awareness of homelessness. The words which sadly

:29:47. > :29:50.resonate today, 50 years on. He said, and we can say this today I

:29:51. > :29:54.think as a result of this Bill, "This is an appeal to help those who

:29:55. > :29:58.no longer have any dignity and self-respect. What we do expect is

:29:59. > :30:02.that you will acknowledge that they are fellow human beings, and they

:30:03. > :30:07.have nothing left to look forward to. We call upon the talents, ideas

:30:08. > :30:10.and enthusiasm of people from all different prejudices and belief, in

:30:11. > :30:19.a constructive attempt to track all this problem. " This Bill has, I

:30:20. > :30:24.believe, followed and fulfilled that spirit of constructive attempt,

:30:25. > :30:26.which won only I believed to a continued and sustained

:30:27. > :30:31.collaboration, if we are in debt to finish the race which we have begun

:30:32. > :30:35.today, on a cross-party, cross Government and indeed across housing

:30:36. > :30:43.sector interest, which is to indeed end homelessness. There is indeed a

:30:44. > :30:47.cross-party consensus in support of this Bill, as we showed in second

:30:48. > :30:55.reading and through the committee stage of the Bill and they do today.

:30:56. > :30:59.It is a step in the right direction, it will hopefully lead to a

:31:00. > :31:03.significant cultural shift in the way the homelessness is treated,

:31:04. > :31:07.particularly but not exclusively for single homeless people and those who

:31:08. > :31:11.have traditionally been non-priority need. It is a good thing that we

:31:12. > :31:16.place on the face of legislation the duties that this Bill provides for

:31:17. > :31:20.in respect of the include dust bag the duty to assess and corporate and

:31:21. > :31:23.the duties of prevention, and I warmly congratulate the honourable

:31:24. > :31:31.member for bringing forward the Bill, and leading it during this

:31:32. > :31:36.recent months. And with the support of Crisis and the expert panel

:31:37. > :31:41.members who helped put the bowl together. So we want this to

:31:42. > :31:46.proceed, proceed fast, and to help bring about a transformation. And

:31:47. > :31:51.although in many cases local authorities and no barrier to

:31:52. > :31:57.carrying out the kind of duties that this will place in legislation, we

:31:58. > :32:02.know particularly the fannish -- I have been a financial pressures

:32:03. > :32:06.recently, local authorities have taken the law very literally, have

:32:07. > :32:12.tested the law, and challenged the law to its outer limits. And beyond

:32:13. > :32:20.in some cases. And it will be at the end is a framework that makes for

:32:21. > :32:26.some of the practices to contain to operate. But it is also true, as we

:32:27. > :32:30.have said on the side and a deep on some of the honourable members

:32:31. > :32:37.opposite, that the Bill does not exist in isolation. We have already

:32:38. > :32:43.referred to the fact that the existing non-statutory duties in

:32:44. > :32:46.terms of the relief of homelessness, which assist round about 100,000

:32:47. > :32:51.households every year, have still not been able to check the

:32:52. > :32:54.remorseless popular trend in homelessness both in terms of those

:32:55. > :33:01.in priority need and non-priority need and not sleeping, over recent

:33:02. > :33:07.years. And why is that? Well, it is because the pressure particularly of

:33:08. > :33:11.resources in so many errors, by no means exclusively local government,

:33:12. > :33:14.has been a crap Kerrie Ballard to any attempts to bring down

:33:15. > :33:23.homelessness. And just on the of rough sleeping -- we know it has

:33:24. > :33:28.that from 16% in this year. Westminster this year, on the front

:33:29. > :33:32.line, but new information I have obtained from the health service,

:33:33. > :33:37.only last week, showed us that not only is there a rough -- rise in

:33:38. > :33:41.rough sleeping, but terrifyingly there has been an escalation in the

:33:42. > :33:47.number of rough sleepers for home mental health problems are the main

:33:48. > :33:53.driver. And that, since 2010, the number of rough sleepers with mental

:33:54. > :33:57.health problems has gone up by 80%. -- serious mental health problems.

:33:58. > :34:04.That reflects something else that's going on across the public services,

:34:05. > :34:11.particularly what is the NHS and the health service more widely. We have

:34:12. > :34:14.heard tell about... I am grateful to my honourable friend, and I agree

:34:15. > :34:22.with her in supporting the Bill. Last Sunday was homelessness Sunday,

:34:23. > :34:25.I was in her borough and the attention was drawn to the very

:34:26. > :34:28.large number of church based night shelters operating all over the

:34:29. > :34:40.country, trying to meet this rapidly growing need, and will she join me

:34:41. > :34:44.in commending those organisations for their efforts? Absolutely, there

:34:45. > :34:47.is stunningly good work being done by churches and other faith

:34:48. > :34:54.communities, and indeed at Christmas I went to the crisis centre at the

:34:55. > :34:59.city of Westminster college and so volunteers, some of which have been

:35:00. > :35:06.going back to Crisis for 20 years, to work on supporting that -- people

:35:07. > :35:10.over that bloody period. So we should absolutely congratulate those

:35:11. > :35:19.people back over that holiday period. And that there are those

:35:20. > :35:22.very fundamental problems, but are pushing us in the open -- opposite

:35:23. > :35:27.direction to that which the Bill would take us. The House of Commons

:35:28. > :35:34.library briefing confirmed that this year alone ?2.7 billion less will be

:35:35. > :35:40.spent on housing support than what would have been the case on trends

:35:41. > :35:43.from 2010, and ?5 billion has been taken out altogether since 2010. I

:35:44. > :35:49.think that puts the ?40 million contribution to this Bill into

:35:50. > :35:53.rather alarming context. And of course universal credit, the delayed

:35:54. > :36:01.payment and direct payments, are driving more and more tenants into

:36:02. > :36:06.arrears, and that in turn is another factor in making it less packed up

:36:07. > :36:11.and what, the opposition that so many homeless people are prepared to

:36:12. > :36:14.let. That is a problem I see no signs of reducing, and in fact is

:36:15. > :36:18.very likely to be going in the opposite direction. So although the

:36:19. > :36:22.Member for Harrow East did say that we should be looked at the Bill

:36:23. > :36:31.today on its merits, and I could do that today, we can offer what is

:36:32. > :36:41.going on. In the last couple of minutes to bring pump the member

:36:42. > :36:46.Mike that this is fundamentally be about people it is about the people

:36:47. > :36:52.at the sharp end, and just in the last few weeks I have dealt with

:36:53. > :36:57.many cases of people, other homeless or at risk of homelessness, this

:36:58. > :37:04.week a young mother of two macro children, 20 years resident in my

:37:05. > :37:08.constituency, whose own parents, the children's grandparents live in the

:37:09. > :37:14.constituency, arsenic, who was made homeless from the private rented

:37:15. > :37:19.sector, had to wait until the bailiffs that in order to be

:37:20. > :37:22.rehoused, and has now been rehoused in north London, over one hour away

:37:23. > :37:29.from her support network, sharing a single room with her two macro

:37:30. > :37:33.children. -- two children. But even more acutely, a case that came to me

:37:34. > :37:41.just before Christmas, which I think goes to the heart of the challenge

:37:42. > :37:48.single new lines from the letter came in danger man up he was kicked

:37:49. > :37:53.out from that I will share with the House, which are very up and put up

:37:54. > :37:58.a list. "I Was forced to live in a friend's car through the winter of

:37:59. > :38:01.2016. One that I was sleeping in the car when it was broken into. The

:38:02. > :38:09.people have been knife to my neck and took everything I owned. -- held

:38:10. > :38:14.a knife. At that park bench on a park bench until a stranger told me

:38:15. > :38:19.about a hostel. I was given a place, but it was three days later.

:38:20. > :38:24.Meanwhile I had to go back to sleeping in the park." Unfortunately

:38:25. > :38:27.at the hostel he was submitted -- subject to attack and robbery, and

:38:28. > :38:32.when he came to me he had been sleeping rough on the whole of last

:38:33. > :38:37.year. His letter finished, "I don't want to be robbed or killed. 2016

:38:38. > :38:43.has been the worst year of my life. I've wanted to kill myself every

:38:44. > :38:49.day. I know if I don't get help, I will be the next to be killed. "

:38:50. > :39:00.That 18 years old, were discovered by the experts for the rest of the

:39:01. > :39:05.stuff, as we are of the cabin and somewhere to live. If that Bill can

:39:06. > :39:11.do anything for that 19-year-old boy, I'm happy to support it. But

:39:12. > :39:18.the leg while other year-old more microphone Harrow East, it does not

:39:19. > :39:22.exist in the context of support, of financial backing, of an attempt to

:39:23. > :39:28.deal with the drivers of homelessness, whether it be housing

:39:29. > :39:31.supply, the failures of universal credit the welfare reform, because

:39:32. > :39:36.if it does not, welcome as these provisions will be, we will

:39:37. > :39:39.unfortunately find ourselves back again in another two years, facing

:39:40. > :39:42.yet more increases in homelessness, and yet more individual lives

:39:43. > :39:52.scarred by this terrible scourge of modern life. It is a pleasure to

:39:53. > :39:56.follow the honourable lady for Westminster North, who has always

:39:57. > :40:01.been very diligent in pursuing housing as an issue in her

:40:02. > :40:06.constituency. And of course I am delighted to thank my honourable

:40:07. > :40:11.friend for his wonderful work, and his office, and of course the

:40:12. > :40:17.honourable gentleman for Enfield Southgate, the de facto Whip, of the

:40:18. > :40:26.Bill. Now, today my honourable friend is a bit of a softy. I know,

:40:27. > :40:32.having known him for 20 years, as a political bruiser, have must have

:40:33. > :40:34.been to inordinately praised the honourable gentleman for

:40:35. > :40:40.Hammersmith. But I think in the spirit that it was given I echo that

:40:41. > :40:47.point. Because actually, we are all here to help needy and vulnerable

:40:48. > :40:52.people who we have the great honour and privilege to represent in this

:40:53. > :40:58.House. I think... I was very concerned that it appeared that Her

:40:59. > :41:06.Majesty's opposition intended on effectively potentially wrecking the

:41:07. > :41:10.Bill a few days ago, and I am glad that they refrain from pushing the

:41:11. > :41:13.amendments to the vote, not necessarily big intended so to do,

:41:14. > :41:18.but when it reached the Lords, peers in the other place may have

:41:19. > :41:26.complicated the issue and endangered the viability of the Bill in. But I

:41:27. > :41:32.think the opposition for that. And honourable friends on this site. --

:41:33. > :41:46.on this side. When we look back at local

:41:47. > :41:53.government reform and the housing boom of the 1950s, this again is

:41:54. > :41:58.very much within that type of commitment to the elevation of

:41:59. > :42:04.people to make the world a better place. I think I am quite unusual in

:42:05. > :42:10.that I am a Conservative Member of Parliament who is very keen on

:42:11. > :42:14.house-building, and who believes that we have to, at source, tackle

:42:15. > :42:18.housing by building more homes. That isn't always the case, and I don't

:42:19. > :42:23.decry the motives of my honourable friend and others in the House for

:42:24. > :42:27.wanting to protect the residential amenity and quality of life in their

:42:28. > :42:32.areas, but in order, long-term, to solve the housing crisis, you need

:42:33. > :42:36.to build more homes, and I think we all accept that is the case, and

:42:37. > :42:41.that is why I was a lonely voice, I think, a month or so ago, arguing

:42:42. > :42:47.against some of the more restrictive amendments in the neighbourhood

:42:48. > :42:57.planning bill, and I was arguing against not building more homes we

:42:58. > :43:02.look forward to the housing white paper coming out, and it is as well

:43:03. > :43:06.to also thank the Minister for the excellent work that he has done with

:43:07. > :43:14.his ministerial colleagues. And particularly to thank the department

:43:15. > :43:18.for the allocation of funds to Peterborough City Council as part of

:43:19. > :43:27.the ?48 million homelessness reduction programme. We have seen an

:43:28. > :43:32.uptick in people presenting as homeless and living on the streets,

:43:33. > :43:36.rough sleepers, in Peterborough. Now, clearly, there has been some

:43:37. > :43:40.issue around the impact of welfare reform, there has been an issue, we

:43:41. > :43:43.have a very large proportion of peripatetic foreign workers from

:43:44. > :43:50.Eastern Europe, who may lose their job very suddenly and therefore are

:43:51. > :43:53.not in a position to pay their rent. But clearly, as the honourable

:43:54. > :44:00.gentleman for Hammersmith made clear, the precipitous termination

:44:01. > :44:07.of housing agreements under section 21 of the housing act is having an

:44:08. > :44:12.impact. And therefore I think this bill is extremely timely. I think

:44:13. > :44:16.the good thing about the bill is that, and I might also say that I

:44:17. > :44:22.supported the bill at second reading very strongly and was there working

:44:23. > :44:30.with other charities in my own constituency. And may I just make a

:44:31. > :44:41.plug for the fantastic work of the congregation of my own church, the

:44:42. > :44:44.parochial church council on Park Road, who have participated with

:44:45. > :44:47.other judges in Peterborough to have a night shelter for some of the most

:44:48. > :44:52.vulnerable people in Peterborough, who wouldn't have a bed on a very

:44:53. > :44:56.cold night, and they have been treated with the warmth and

:44:57. > :45:01.humankind nurse and dignity that one would expect of good Christian

:45:02. > :45:06.people. -- human kindness. So thank you to Father Greg Roberts and the

:45:07. > :45:11.others for that. Can I just say, this is the beginning of a journey,

:45:12. > :45:16.this will not end homelessness, it will not end the rough sleeping. But

:45:17. > :45:20.we are on a journey, and I think the good thing about the bill is that it

:45:21. > :45:26.is a proactive effort, particularly around early intervention and

:45:27. > :45:33.advice. Because we really have to concede that it is not just about

:45:34. > :45:37.dry, arcane legislation - it is about human beings only the problems

:45:38. > :45:39.they are suffering, which means that they have to take difficult

:45:40. > :45:45.decisions. And therefore I would urge the Minister to think in a more

:45:46. > :45:50.holistic way around and substance misuse and mental health issues, as

:45:51. > :45:54.it impacts on people who are homeless. And please, if it's

:45:55. > :45:59.possible to give more support in the course of secondary legislation of

:46:00. > :46:02.this act, hopefully, to assist local authorities - I think that would be

:46:03. > :46:08.very important indeed. Another important issue to raise is that,

:46:09. > :46:10.for authorities such as Peterborough, which participated in

:46:11. > :46:16.large-scale stock transfers some years ago, there just isn't the

:46:17. > :46:23.capacity to think ahead in terms of local trends for homelessness. And

:46:24. > :46:28.therefore they need some expertise and help, and that obviously does

:46:29. > :46:33.cost money. But it shouldn't be the case that the first time anyone can

:46:34. > :46:39.receive help is when the bailiffs are knocking on their door. I

:46:40. > :46:46.welcome, in particular, the help to secure parts of the bill and, of

:46:47. > :46:49.course, the individualised plan, because we are talking about

:46:50. > :46:53.individuals, each of whom is a different set of circumstances which

:46:54. > :46:57.has brought them to make the decisions that they have made. And

:46:58. > :47:06.life sometimes happens to you while you are making other plans, to quote

:47:07. > :47:09.John Lennon many years ago! The fact is that is that advice, that

:47:10. > :47:14.proactive, forward-looking advice, will actually be good for the

:47:15. > :47:18.taxpayer, but more importantly good for those individuals, particularly

:47:19. > :47:24.individuals with families. So that is very, very important. Selective

:47:25. > :47:27.licensing, my honourable friend the member for Mid Derbyshire, who was

:47:28. > :47:32.no longer in her place, did make the important point about vulnerable

:47:33. > :47:36.women who are affected by homelessness. Bonneval women are

:47:37. > :47:44.also affected by very poor quality housing. -- vulnerable women. And I

:47:45. > :47:52.am quite honest in saying that I am willing to look at the trade-off of

:47:53. > :47:56.ending slum landlords by reducing some of the provision, because I

:47:57. > :48:00.don't want my constituents living in slums at the whim of rapacious

:48:01. > :48:05.landlords who are milking the taxpayer. And that might mean some

:48:06. > :48:08.turbulence in the market, but the duty does not end once we have

:48:09. > :48:14.housed that person. The duty ends when we are convinced that that

:48:15. > :48:18.person, or that family, is in decent accommodation. A number of years

:48:19. > :48:22.ago, Cambridgeshire Constabulary looked at crime committed in new

:48:23. > :48:27.migrant households against women, sexual crime, theft and other

:48:28. > :48:32.crimes. So we have a much more general duty, and should do, to

:48:33. > :48:37.people who are in private accommodation. May I just say very

:48:38. > :48:42.briefly a little bit about the saga of Saint Michael's gate? My

:48:43. > :48:45.honourable friend will know I had a Westminster Hall debate, this was

:48:46. > :48:51.the ludicrous situation, the Alice in Wonderland situation where my

:48:52. > :48:56.local authority was forced to take people who were statutory homeless,

:48:57. > :49:03.who had been housed in a travel lodge, into a development called St

:49:04. > :49:07.Michael's Gate, where the landlord, whose dubious and morally

:49:08. > :49:12.reprehensible business model I mentioned earlier in the House,

:49:13. > :49:17.meant that they served a section 21 notice on 74 of those households and

:49:18. > :49:21.made a number of them homeless, so they were recycling homelessness.

:49:22. > :49:25.The reason? Because it was more lucrative for them to cream off the

:49:26. > :49:32.administrative fee for overnight homelessness accommodation, and of

:49:33. > :49:36.course those people who were chucked out were statutory homeless. It is a

:49:37. > :49:39.ludicrous situation, and I have asked the Local Government

:49:40. > :49:42.Association to look at that in detail to make sure it can never

:49:43. > :49:48.happen again or is very unlikely. And that brings me to the key issue

:49:49. > :49:56.of the trend of many local authorities to begin to discharge

:49:57. > :50:01.their homelessness obligations under the 1986 Act by shovelling the most

:50:02. > :50:05.vulnerable people around the country, different authorities keen

:50:06. > :50:13.to push people to other local housing authorities. And I think

:50:14. > :50:15.that there should be at the least a proposal or concordat in place to

:50:16. > :50:18.make sure it stops, because it is not fair on those people and is

:50:19. > :50:24.older madly not fair on the taxpayers. -- and is ultimately not

:50:25. > :50:29.fair on the taxpayers. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I warmly welcome

:50:30. > :50:35.this bill. It is a culmination of an anomalous amount of effort and hard

:50:36. > :50:39.work, and I welcome the duty to provide advisory services, which was

:50:40. > :50:47.sorely needed. -- an enormous amount of effort. To day, I think we have

:50:48. > :50:52.seen the best tradition of the House of Commons, people of good faith

:50:53. > :50:56.coming together in the service of our constituents, sticking up for

:50:57. > :51:03.people who do want a better life, decent people, who will have a human

:51:04. > :51:08.rights to a roof over their head. It is our job to look after their

:51:09. > :51:13.interests, and they are the people we serve, and I warmly endorsed this

:51:14. > :51:17.bill, and I hope that it soon becomes an act, receives Royal

:51:18. > :51:23.assent, and begins to make a difference to the lives of so many

:51:24. > :51:30.very needy people. Helen Hayes. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I

:51:31. > :51:34.rise to welcome this bill, and I want to add my tribute to the

:51:35. > :51:40.honourable member for Harrow East for taking on this subject for his

:51:41. > :51:44.private member's bill, and for the diligence and the commitment that he

:51:45. > :51:49.has shown to seeing this bill through. I also welcome the process

:51:50. > :51:53.of the bill. I have been pleased to have been involved, closely involved

:51:54. > :51:58.from the beginning through the select committee, as a member of the

:51:59. > :52:03.selectivity, through the inquiry, and then to the bill committee stage

:52:04. > :52:09.of this legislation as well, and I think it is an excellent example of

:52:10. > :52:16.evidence based legislation. We saw, on the select committee, undeniably

:52:17. > :52:20.evidence that the problem of homelessness is increasing, that it

:52:21. > :52:24.is increasing at an exponential rate, and that the current system is

:52:25. > :52:31.not working, and this bill will play an important role in setting some of

:52:32. > :52:35.that right. This bill is a principled reform which will set the

:52:36. > :52:40.basis on which homeless people receive support in the right