Housing Bill
9:10 am
Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
There is no need to elaborate at length on what the Minister said, but it would be remiss not to
welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Conway. As ever, it will be a delight to serve under your erudite and generous chairmanship as we consider an important measure.
There are a number of implications to the measure, and all Committee members—as evidenced by the quality of the debate on Second Reading, to which the Minister referred—share a determination to ensure that this important legislation is as effective and fair as possible. Over the next few weeks, as we are locked not in combat but in healthy scrutiny of the Bill, we will seek to do just that.
I have nothing further to say about the specific nature of the programme motion, or about the progress that we will all endeavour to ensure is made, except to note that as we progress a number of matters that are not in the Bill will doubtless emerge; they will be brought to the Committee's attention in the form of new clauses. As hon. Members will remember, that issue was raised on Second Reading and it was felt by some that aspects of the Bill touched on other matters that perhaps should have been included, but are not. I hope that we will have ample opportunity under your stewardship, Mr. Conway, and that of Mr. Pike, to explore those issues as we progress and as they relate to particular aspects of the Bill, on the basis suggested in the Programming Sub-Committee. No doubt, such new clauses will be tabled in due course and we can enjoy a broad, efficient and effective debate on them, albeit one that is constrained by the proper consideration of such matters.