Housing and Regeneration Bill
2:30 pm
Yvette Cooper: Clearly the HCA plays an important role in the Thames Gateway, because we are talking about procuring substantial numbers of homes and affordable homes there. There are also land issues in the Thames Gateway, and there is a series of areas where the functions of English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation are relevant. That, too, is part of the HCA’s remit. There are other areas where we have consulted on growth area functions, the decent homes work of the HCA, and other issues where we think there are strong reasons for the HCA to play a role. We will confirm our views on precisely what will be covered by the HCA in time for you to have those debates in Committee. You will appreciate that we are hoping to make an early appointment of the chief executive of the HCA. As part of that programme we would like to set out the other things that will be covered by the HCA. That gives us an opportunity to look at its role regarding the Thames Gateway, too. Clearly, many growth area functions and Thames Gateway functions are similar.