Schedule 2 - Minor and consequential amendments
Homes Bill
3:30 pm
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne, Conservative)
I compliment the hon. Lady on an elegant attempt at a tactical withdrawal. The fact is that the original amendment originated from our friends at Shelter, who say:
``we do not believe this amendment''—
that is, the Government amendment—
``goes far enough to address our concern that authorities should be required to deliver a basic minimum level of service.''
Perhaps this should be a lesson to lobby and pressure groups such as Shelter that the average Government Back Bencher is prepared to go only so far in rebelling on issues like this, and are likely to raise the white flag at the first whiff of grapeshot. The hon. Lady remains a little concerned. Let us hope that her little concerns can be allayed by the Minister. I have a sneaking suspicion that they can.
During a previous debate, I quoted at length from the imaginatively titled Shelter report, ``Singles Barred'', which gave examples of people who had received dismal treatment from local authorities.