To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to discuss the regulation of elections for directly-elected police and crime commissioners under the provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to discuss the regulation of elections for directly-elected police and crime commissioners under the provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

Government guidance dated 12/03/2004 on local government investments. 7 p.

Government guidance dated 12/03/2004 on local government investments. 7 p.

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs): guidance on the general principles of designation of voluntary regional assemblies. 3 p.

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs): guidance on the general principles of designation of voluntary regional assemblies. 3 p.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements are being made for him to answer oral questions on the floor of the House in relation to his new responsibilities.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements are being made for him to answer oral questions on the floor of the House in relation to his new responsibilities.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what opportunities he expects there to be for hon. Members to hold him to account on the floor of the House.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what opportunities he expects there to be for hon. Members to hold him to account on the floor of the House.

Regional Development Agencies: guidance on the general principles of designation of voluntary regional chambers. 2 p.

Regional Development Agencies: guidance on the general principles of designation of voluntary regional chambers. 2 p.

A respect standard for housing management: consultation paper. Incl. partial regulatory impact assessment. 31 p.

A respect standard for housing management: consultation paper. Incl. partial regulatory impact assessment. 31 p.

Does my hon. Friend agree that there is growing unrest in our communities about accountability or, more importantly, lack of accountability by the Government? Let us take the example of Milton Keynes partnerships, the unelected, unaccountable quango that has been charged with the delivery of the expansion of my city....

Does my hon. Friend agree that there is growing unrest in our communities about accountability or, more importantly, lack of accountability by the Government? Let us take the example of Milton Keynes partnerships, the unelected, unaccountable quango that has been charged with the delivery of the expansion of my city....

Housing Corporation (Delegation) etc Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, on Report, Third Reading, and any other proceedings. Agreed to on division (322 to 107).

Housing Corporation (Delegation) etc Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, on Report, Third Reading, and any other proceedings. Agreed to on division (322 to 107).

The availability of affordable housing is certainly an issue in the local council election campaigns in London, although I hope—as I am sure the hon. Gentleman does—that it will not prove successful in boosting the level of support for a party that has no role to play in a proper...

The availability of affordable housing is certainly an issue in the local council election campaigns in London, although I hope—as I am sure the hon. Gentleman does—that it will not prove successful in boosting the level of support for a party that has no role to play in a proper...

The House recognises that it is desirable to bring this business to a close speedily, as I suspect that everyone wants to get out to campaign in the local elections. In the case of Ministers, there is a new urgency, as today’s opinion polls demonstrate that support for the Labour...

The House recognises that it is desirable to bring this business to a close speedily, as I suspect that everyone wants to get out to campaign in the local elections. In the case of Ministers, there is a new urgency, as today’s opinion polls demonstrate that support for the Labour...

Thank you for that guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was going to list the litany of complaints from Mallard house residents, many of whom are taking legal action.

Thank you for that guidance, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was going to list the litany of complaints from Mallard house residents, many of whom are taking legal action.

The debate on this Bill is being watched closely in Hammersmith and Fulham. Notting Hill Housing Group is one of the biggest recipients of funds under delegated powers from the Housing Corporation. About two years ago, I issued an appeal in our local papers for tenants who had suffered under...

The debate on this Bill is being watched closely in Hammersmith and Fulham. Notting Hill Housing Group is one of the biggest recipients of funds under delegated powers from the Housing Corporation. About two years ago, I issued an appeal in our local papers for tenants who had suffered under...

I am not sure whether my hon. Friend thinks that the delegated power assumed by the Housing Corporation is responsible for the disasters that he has described.

I am not sure whether my hon. Friend thinks that the delegated power assumed by the Housing Corporation is responsible for the disasters that he has described.

My hon. Friend may be right. There are some precedents on retrospective legislation—for example, the War Crimes Act 1991 was essentially retrospective—but the Bill may open a can of worms. As I have said, legal action is being taken against housing associations, some of which relates to funding by the...

My hon. Friend may be right. There are some precedents on retrospective legislation—for example, the War Crimes Act 1991 was essentially retrospective—but the Bill may open a can of worms. As I have said, legal action is being taken against housing associations, some of which relates to funding by the...

I am having some difficulty in following the hon. Gentleman’s argument, because it is so wide ranging. Does he support his Front Benchers, who find the Bill not only acceptable, but necessary?

I am having some difficulty in following the hon. Gentleman’s argument, because it is so wide ranging. Does he support his Front Benchers, who find the Bill not only acceptable, but necessary?

I support the Bill, but it could be more wide ranging. If it had been thought through properly, rather than being foisted on us suddenly, a lot more could have been included. I hope that it will be amended to include a lot of the matters that I have discussed...

I support the Bill, but it could be more wide ranging. If it had been thought through properly, rather than being foisted on us suddenly, a lot more could have been included. I hope that it will be amended to include a lot of the matters that I have discussed...

You are right, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Nevertheless, the Labour council has delivered on all the things that it said that the Conservatives would introduce. The Bill is to be welcomed. However, it is a great shame that it does not afford us the opportunity to make other, much needed changes...

You are right, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Nevertheless, the Labour council has delivered on all the things that it said that the Conservatives would introduce. The Bill is to be welcomed. However, it is a great shame that it does not afford us the opportunity to make other, much needed changes...

This short debate has been more interesting than some of us initially expected. It has given Members an opportunity to show their ingenuity in talking about many problems that are related to the Bill, if sometimes a little beyond its scope. As my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath...

This short debate has been more interesting than some of us initially expected. It has given Members an opportunity to show their ingenuity in talking about many problems that are related to the Bill, if sometimes a little beyond its scope. As my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath...

The hon. Gentleman may be approached by not as many private tenants with problems as council tenants because his constituents believe that an MP has more influence over elected councillors, particularly if they both belong to the same party, than over private landlords.

The hon. Gentleman may be approached by not as many private tenants with problems as council tenants because his constituents believe that an MP has more influence over elected councillors, particularly if they both belong to the same party, than over private landlords.