“(1) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) without reasonable excuse obstructs an officer of a local housing authority who is exercising or seeking to exercise in accordance with this Chapter a power under any provision of this Chapter other than section (

(b) without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a requirement properly imposed by an officer of a local housing authority under any provision of this Chapter other than section (

(c) without reasonable cause fails to give an officer of a local housing authority any other assistance or information which the officer reasonably requires of the person for the purpose of exercising a power under this Chapter other than section (

(2) A person commits an offence if, in giving information to an officer who is exercising or seeking to exercise a power under this Chapter, the person—

(a) makes a statement which the person knows is false or misleading in a material respect, or

(b) recklessly makes a statement which is false or misleading in a material respect.

(3) A person who is not an officer of a local housing authority commits an offence if the person purports to act as such under this Chapter.

(4) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(5) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

(6) Nothing in this section requires a person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person.”—

This new clause provides for offences relating to the other new clauses that create investigatory powers for local housing authorities.

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.