Clause 51 - Temporary exemption from licensing requirement
Housing Bill
2:45 pm
Mr John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
It is a fair question. I am glad that I have excited the hon. Gentleman into an intervention, because it is good that we all play a healthy part in these affairs. However, it is not for a man of my limited capacity to define that period. The Minister, with his infinitely greater experience, and somewhat greater wisdom, will no doubt want to comment on that when he sums up. When he embraces the amendment, as I am confident he will, he will no doubt describe to the Committee what he believes to be a reasonable time. I think that we could come to a sensible agreement during the Bill's passage about what constitutes a reasonable time. The hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane) is implying that if we accept this amendment without a time scale built into it, some people would exploit that loophole. I know that he is worried, and rightly so, that what I am describing as a fair and reasonable defence on the part of someone who might be unaware of their responsibilities could be perceived as a loophole by which an irresponsible person who was buying and selling properties might make an unreasonable defence. If that is the case that he is making, I think it is fair.