Public Bill Committee: 24th January 2008

343

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Mr Nick Raynsford

Lembit Öpik

Andrew George

43

Clause  173,  page  68,  line  24,  at end insert—

‘(3)	In setting standards the regulator shall have regard (among other matters) to

landlords’ contribution to the environmental, social and economic well-being of

the areas in which their property is situated.’.

Mr Nick Raynsford

Lembit Öpik

Andrew George

46

Clause  173,  page  68,  line  24,  at end insert—

‘(3)	No standard may be set that would require a registered provider to act in any way

that is inconsistent with—

(a)	its rules, memorandum and articles of association, or equivalent

governing instrument;

(b)	any legal or contractual commitment, including any loan covenant, for

the time being binding upon it; or

(c)	or if applicable, its status as a charity (whether or not it is registered as

such).’.

Mr Iain Wright

230

Clause  174,  page  68,  line  26,  leave out ‘non-profit’.

Mr Nick Raynsford

47

Clause  174,  page  68,  line  27,  at end insert—

‘(2)	In setting standards, the regulator shall have regard (among other matters) to

providers’ contribution to the environmental, social and economic well-being of

the areas in which their property is situated.’.

Mr Nick Raynsford

Lembit Öpik

Andrew George

48

Clause  174,  page  68,  line  27,  at end insert—

‘(2)	No standard may be set that would require a registered provider to act in any way

that is inconistent with—

(a)	its rules, memorandum and articles of association, or equivalent

governing instrument;

(b)	any legal or contractual commitment, including any loan covenant, for

the time being binding upon it; or

(c)	if applicable, its status as a charity (whether or not registered as such).’.

Mr Iain Wright

231

Clause  174,  page  68,  line  27,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee: 24th January 2008

344

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

‘( )	In respect of profit-making registered providers, standards may be made in

relation to the management of their affairs only so far as relating to the provision

of social housing.’.

Mr Iain Wright

232

Clause  176,  page  68,  line  38,  after ‘standards’ insert ‘or issuing, revising or

withdrawing a code of practice’.

Mr Iain Wright

233

Clause  176,  page  68,  line  41,  at end insert—

‘( )	one or more bodies appearing to it to represent the interests of secured

creditors of registered providers,’.

Mr Iain Wright

234

Clause  177,  page  69,  line  8,  at end insert—

‘( )	In deciding whether to give a direction the Secretary of State shall, in particular,

have regard to the regulator’s fundamental objectives.’.

Mr Nick Raynsford

Lembit Öpik

Andrew George

49

Clause  177,  page  69,  line  8,  at end insert—

‘provided that any such directive is consistent with the regulator’s fundamental

objectives as defined in section 86.’.

Mr Iain Wright

235

Clause  177,  page  69,  line  15,  at end insert—

‘( )	A direction may disapply the requirement to consult under section 176 in relation

to specified matters.’.

Mr Iain Wright

236

Clause  177,  page  69,  line  17,  after ‘publish’ insert ‘—

( )	each proposed direction that is the subject of a consultation,

( )	each response to a consultation, and

( )

’.

Public Bill Committee: 24th January 2008

345

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Mr Iain Wright

237

Clause  177,  page  69,  line  18,  leave out subsection (5).

Mr Nick Raynsford

Lembit Öpik

Andrew George

50

Clause  178,  page  69,  line  21,  leave out subsection (1) and insert—

‘(1)	The regulator may exercise its powers as set out in Chapters 6 and 7 in order to

secure the proper management of the affairs of a registered provider. In

considering whether mismanagement or misconduct has occurred, the regulator

may have regard (among other matters) to the extent to which the standards are

being or have been followed.’.

Mr Iain Wright

238

Clause  178,  page  69,  line  26,  at end insert—

‘( )	Standards may be expressed by reference to documents prepared by others.’.

Mr Iain Wright

239

Clause  180,  page  70,  line  24,  at end insert—

‘( )	Proceedings for an offence under this section may be brought only by or with the

consent of—

(a)	the regulator, or

(b)	the Director of Public Prosecutions.’.

Mr Iain Wright

240

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  26,  after ‘may’ insert ‘arrange for an inspector to’.

Mr Iain Wright

241

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  26,  after ‘inspect’ insert ‘—

(a)

’.

Mr Iain Wright

242

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  27,  at end insert ‘, or

(b)	the financial or other affairs of a registered provider.’.

Public Bill Committee: 24th January 2008

346

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Mr Iain Wright

243

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  27,  at end insert—

‘( )	“Inspector” means one or more members of the regulator’s staff, or other persons,

authorised in writing by the regulator for the purposes of conducting the

inspection.’.

Mr Iain Wright

244

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  27,  at end insert—

‘( )	After carrying out an inspection an inspector must produce a written report.

( )	The regulator—

(a)	must give the registered provider a copy of the report, and

(b)	may publish the report and related information.’.

Mr Iain Wright

245

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  29,  leave out subsection (3).

Lembit Öpik

Andrew George

335

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  33,  leave out subsections (4) to (7).

Mr Iain Wright

246

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  37,  leave out ‘and’.

Mr Iain Wright

247

Clause  181,  page  70,  line  39,  at end insert—

‘( )	the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health

Service in England, and

( )	such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.’.

Mr Iain Wright

248

Clause  183,  page  71,  line  17,  leave out ‘in relation to social housing’.

Mr Iain Wright

249

Clause  183,  page  71,  line  22,  after ‘they’, insert ‘and the members of their family’.

Public Bill Committee: 24th January 2008

347

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Mr Iain Wright

250

Clause  184,  page  71,  line  28,  at end insert—

‘( )	The inquirer may consider the affairs of a profit-making registered provider only

so far as relating to social housing.’.

Mr Iain Wright

251

Clause  184,  page  71,  line  33,  leave out ‘publish’ and insert ‘arrange for the

publication of’.

Mr Iain Wright

252

Clause  185,  page  72,  line  2,  leave out from ‘to’ to end of line 5 and insert ‘provide

specified documents or information.’.

Mr Iain Wright

253

Clause  185,  page  72,  line  6,  leave out subsection (2) and insert—

‘(2)	The notice may, in particular, require evidence to be given on oath (and the

inquirer may administer oaths for that purpose).’.

Mr Iain Wright

254

Clause  185,  page  72,  line  8,  leave out ‘to persons’ and insert ‘documents’.

Mr Iain Wright

255

Clause  185,  page  72,  line  11,  leave out ‘(4), (5), (6) and’ and insert ‘(3) to’.

Mr Iain Wright

256

Clause  186,  page  72,  line  21,  at end insert—

‘( )	The revenue accounts of a registered charity may be audited under this section

only insofar as they relate to its housing activities.’.

Mr Nick Raynsford

349

Page  72,  line  25,  leave out Clause 187.

Public Bill Committee: 24th January 2008

348

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Mr Nick Raynsford

350

Clause  188,  page  72,  line  31,  leave out from ‘office’ to end of line 36 and insert ‘or,

(c)	rules, except as provided in subsection (3).

(3)	The regulator’s prior written consent is required to any change in the society’s

objects, or any change in the society’s rules directing the application of its

property in the event of its dissolution, or any change providing authorisation for

any benefit to be obtained by directors or members of the society or persons

connected with them.

(4)	Any change requiring the regulator’s consent shall be invalid unless such consent

has been obtained.

(5)	In respect of changes requiring the regulator’s consent, the requirement in section

10(1) of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (c. 12) (sending copies

of amendment of rules to FSA) is satisfied only if the copies are accompanied by

a copy of the regulator’s consent.’.

Mr Iain Wright

257

Clause  188,  page  72,  line  33,  at end insert—

‘( )	The regulator may not consent to an amendment which it thinks would turn the

society into a profit-making organisation.’.

Mr Nick Raynsford

351

Clause  190,  page  73,  line  10,  leave out from ‘office’ to end of line 36 and insert ‘or,

(c)	memorandum and articles of association, except as provided in

subsection (3).

(3)	The regulator’s prior written consent is required to any change in the objects

clause in the company’s memorandum of association, or any change in the

company’s memorandum or articles of association directing the application of its

property in the event of its dissolution, or any change in the company’s

memorandum or articles of association providing authorisation for any benefit to

be obtained by directors or members of the company or persons connected with

them.

(4)	Any change requiring the regulator’s consent shall be invalid unless such consent

has been obtained.

(5)	In respect of changes requiring the regulator’s consent, the requirement in section

30 of the Companies Act 2006 (c. 46) (sending copy of resolution to registrar) is

satisfied only if the copy is accompanied by a copy of the regulator’s consent.’.

Mr Iain Wright

258

Clause  190,  page  73,  line  12,  at end insert—

‘( )	The regulator may not consent to an amendment which it thinks would turn the

company into a profit-making organisation.’.

Public Bill Committee: 24th January 2008

349

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Mr Iain Wright

259

Page  73,  line  17,  leave out Clause 191.

Mr Iain Wright

260

Clause  194,  page  74,  line  11,  leave out from ‘may’ to end of line 13 and insert

‘refer to accreditation under this section.’.

Alistair Burt

325

Clause  195,  page  74,  line  19,  at end add—

‘(b)	shall not apply to local housing authorities and persons controlled by

local housing authorities.’.

Mr Iain Wright

261

Clause  196,  page  74,  line  28,  at end insert—

‘( )	Case 2A is where the registered provider has failed to comply with an earlier

enforcement notice.’.

Mr Iain Wright

262

Clause  196,  page  74,  line  28,  at end insert—

‘( )	Case 2B is where the registered provider has failed to publish information in

accordance with a requirement under section 205(2A) or 217(2A).’.

Mr Iain Wright

263

Clause  196,  page  74,  line  33,  at end insert—

‘( )	Case 5A is where the registered provider has failed to pay an annual fee under

section 113(2).’.

Mr Iain Wright

264

Clause  197,  page  75,  line  11,  at end insert—

---

Revised 24 January 2008