Contributions
2,291 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHousing: Private Rented SectorI am afraid that I have to answer the noble Lord that it is not up to me to agree to a debate, but I am sure that the Front Bench along from me has listened to what the noble Lord…12 Jan 2023HANSARDHousing: Private Rented SectorThe Government have made it clear that, within this Session, they will bring forward the private renters Bill, which will look at the issues that my noble friend raises, as well…12 Jan 2023HANSARDHousing: Private Rented SectorMy Lords, the Government are doing many things. When the renters reform Bill comes through—it was a Conservative Party manifesto commitment—it will look at these issues,…12 Jan 2023HANSARDHousing: Private Rented SectorThe Government have not considered that, although we may have to consider such measures for temporary accommodation as a result of pressures due particularly to immigration from…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersAh, the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy—once again. The Government have been clear about our commitment to addressing the historic imbalance in the leaseholder system, as he knows. The…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersMy Lords, the Government have already committed to: making it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to extend their lease or buy their freehold; banning new leasehold houses, so all…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersThe Government believe that leaseholders should not be subject to unjustified legal costs and should be able to claim their own legal costs from their landlord. The Government are…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersThat is an interesting remark that I will take back to officials to discuss further. I will come back to my noble friend.12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersI cannot comment on the individual case, but the law is already clear that service charges must be reasonable. That is set out in Section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersThe right reverend Prelate brings up an interesting point. I do not know exactly what the Government will do, as the announcement was made only this week. However, I will find out…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersAs I have made clear a number of times at this Dispatch Box, these measures were in the manifesto in 2019. We have always said that we will bring forward a reform Bill in this…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersI would love to put the Bill out in draft, because I would love to stop these Questions coming every three months from the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy. We have committed as a…12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersI have not seen the new Bill, so I cannot give that assurance. However, I am aware of the noble Lord’s review and I know that we are still considering it.12 Jan 2023HANSARDResidential LeaseholdersThe Government are totally aware of the issues relating to all sectors of the housing industry in this country and those that affect tenants and home owners at the moment. We are…12 Jan 2023HANSARDSocial Mobility CommissionMy Lords, the Government have no plans to do that. Katharine made very clear why she left in her article in Schools Week . The Minister for Women and Equalities has been very…12 Jan 2023HANSARDSocial Mobility CommissionMy Lords, it is very clear what the SMC should be doing. It is written down in its agreement with the Government. It has been delivering that, and it will continue to deliver…12 Jan 2023HANSARDSocial Mobility CommissionMy Lords, I assure noble Lords that I have been extremely well briefed—I hope—on this issue. This issue, interestingly enough, is not to do with DLUHC. It comes from the…12 Jan 2023HANSARDSocial Mobility CommissionI thank my noble friend for that. I will certainly take that back. I am almost sure that anybody who will be chairing this commission or serving on it will have all that…12 Jan 2023HANSARDSocial Mobility CommissionI am not aware of any plans to do that, but I will take the idea back. I have yet to meet my officials. I was officially put into this role only on Monday evening, so at my first…12 Jan 2023HANSARDSocial Mobility CommissionI certainly would never want to be called a chair; I have always required people to call me a chairman. That is the name of it, but perhaps I am a little old-fashioned.12 Jan 2023