Clause 52 - Applications for licences
Housing Bill
3:00 pm
Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
The hon. Gentleman knows that Conservative members of the Committee have repeatedly stated that the costs that the Bill will inevitably impose on local councils should be properly reflected in the grants given to them. My hon. Friend the Member for Poole and I have repeatedly suggested that the costs will be considerable and that the burden should not be underestimated. However, I make a prediction on which I invite the hon. Gentleman to comment: that if we prescribe the maximum, almost every local authority will regard it not as a maximum, but as a benchmark, and charge it.