My Lords, I draw noble Lords’ attention to another point. We are in discussions about eco-towns. It is not always right to think in terms of houses going where people need them. It is sometimes difficult to find places and opportunities to build houses where people need them immediately, but...

My Lords, I draw noble Lords’ attention to another point. We are in discussions about eco-towns. It is not always right to think in terms of houses going where people need them. It is sometimes difficult to find places and opportunities to build houses where people need them immediately, but...

My Lords, I support the amendments of the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, and my noble friend Lord Dixon-Smith. It is impossible to believe that social housing will appear in suitable quantity unless there is close co-operation. Any powers that put the HCA in the driving seat will therefore arouse resentment...

My Lords, I support the amendments of the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, and my noble friend Lord Dixon-Smith. It is impossible to believe that social housing will appear in suitable quantity unless there is close co-operation. Any powers that put the HCA in the driving seat will therefore arouse resentment...

My Lords, in welcoming the amendment, I put myself into the minds of the HCA management and address their need always to get their priorities right, and to know what they can and cannot do. Bearing in mind that one person’s good design is another’s white elephant, it is probably...

My Lords, in welcoming the amendment, I put myself into the minds of the HCA management and address their need always to get their priorities right, and to know what they can and cannot do. Bearing in mind that one person’s good design is another’s white elephant, it is probably...

I thank the Minister for her reply and I thank noble Lords who took part. If I do a quick piece of arithmetic, my rotation of the board is very unlikely to leave anybody on the board for fewer than six years and is most likely to leave them on...

I thank the Minister for her reply and I thank noble Lords who took part. If I do a quick piece of arithmetic, my rotation of the board is very unlikely to leave anybody on the board for fewer than six years and is most likely to leave them on...

It is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness. I apologise to the Committee for not having spoken at Second Reading. I completely concur with the noble Baroness. May I also say how wonderfully positive the response has been to these impending reforms? The noble Baroness says that members of...

It is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness. I apologise to the Committee for not having spoken at Second Reading. I completely concur with the noble Baroness. May I also say how wonderfully positive the response has been to these impending reforms? The noble Baroness says that members of...

I thank the noble Baroness for that and I am entirely sympathetic to the point. Under this paragraph, the Secretary of State is plunging into the game of committees to far too great an extent. I cannot understand why the agency cannot govern its own proceedings. Of course, there is...

I thank the noble Baroness for that and I am entirely sympathetic to the point. Under this paragraph, the Secretary of State is plunging into the game of committees to far too great an extent. I cannot understand why the agency cannot govern its own proceedings. Of course, there is...

This morning I was reading on my parliamentary laptop the 2006-07 report published in July 2007. I shall refer to it again on the matter of committees—it is absolutely clear about what the affairs of English Partnerships have been—meanwhile, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn....

This morning I was reading on my parliamentary laptop the 2006-07 report published in July 2007. I shall refer to it again on the matter of committees—it is absolutely clear about what the affairs of English Partnerships have been—meanwhile, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn....

moved Amendment No. 6: 6: Schedule 1, page 148, line 23, at end insert— ““( ) One third of the members shall retire three years after the commencement of this Schedule and shall be eligible for re-appointment. ( ) Thereafter, one-third of the members shall retire each year by rotation.””...

moved Amendment No. 6: 6: Schedule 1, page 148, line 23, at end insert— ““( ) One third of the members shall retire three years after the commencement of this Schedule and shall be eligible for re-appointment. ( ) Thereafter, one-third of the members shall retire each year by rotation.””...

I would like to come down to earth. I come from the north-east and I remember very well the arguments with Middlesbrough and with Stockton on the subject of Middlehaven and the north bank of the Tees—the north Stockton bank. That was one of the things that led to the...

I would like to come down to earth. I come from the north-east and I remember very well the arguments with Middlesbrough and with Stockton on the subject of Middlehaven and the north bank of the Tees—the north Stockton bank. That was one of the things that led to the...

I thank the noble Baroness for that. The Minister said earlier that directions were a powerful sanction weapon because you must comply with them. Having listened to the description of the noble Baroness, Lady Ford, I would have thought that could have been reached by agreement. I bet it would...

I thank the noble Baroness for that. The Minister said earlier that directions were a powerful sanction weapon because you must comply with them. Having listened to the description of the noble Baroness, Lady Ford, I would have thought that could have been reached by agreement. I bet it would...

I am a little uncertain. The annual report and accounts of English Partnerships records the audit committee, the remuneration committee and the major projects committee—I may not have the title quite right—and all members of the board are entitled to attend. Another, which I suspect comes out of the new...

I am a little uncertain. The annual report and accounts of English Partnerships records the audit committee, the remuneration committee and the major projects committee—I may not have the title quite right—and all members of the board are entitled to attend. Another, which I suspect comes out of the new...