Clause 246
Housing and Regeneration Bill
3:15 pm
Iain Wright (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Communities and Local Government; Hartlepool, Labour)
I will check in Hansard, but I think that I said that we would keep it under close review and would monitor it, rather than providing a blank cheque to local authorities. I also said that we have provided additional resources for the extra burdens on local authorities from HIPs.
I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point about this matter being at the cutting edge. However, trading standards officers, who are named in the Bill as the enforcement authority, will not need any technical knowledge when looking into it. All that they will need to know is when a code certificate should be given and what it looks like, and they will need to be familiar with the provisions in this chapter on disclosure and offences. I suggest that they will not have to go on long courses to gain technical knowledge about sustainability. I calculate that the burden will not be too onerous, but LACORS will keep us informed on that.