John Healey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing and Planning, commenting on further government defeats and concessions on its flagship Housing and Planning Bill this evening in the House of Lords, said:
“After 13 defeats and even more partial climb-downs, it’s clear the House of Lords has given this extreme Tory Housing Bill a vote of no confidence.
“As the Housing Bill returns to the House of Commons next week, Tory Ministers should reflect on the widespread opposition to their plans - from Peers of all parties, to housing experts, to their own local councillors - and accept it’s time to rethink their damaging housing plans.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Labour has been leading the opposition to the Housing and Planning Bill, and has been working with Peers of all parties and none to amend this legislation. The government has now lost 13 votes, and has made a number of mostly minor concessions.
At the Bill’s Third Reading on Wednesday 27th, the Government lost two votes:
· The government lost a vote on Labour-backed amendment 6 (275 votes to 197), which will attempt to ensure that councils homes sold are replaced on a like-for-like basis.
· The government lost a vote on Labour amendment 8 (235 votes to 201), which would ensure that the threshold used to define ‘high income’ social tenants is raised in line with inflation.
On Monday 25th the government lost three votes:
· The government lost a vote on Labour amendment 118 (253 votes to 205) which will ensure carbon compliance for new homes.
· The government lost a vote on Labour amendment 119 (269 votes to 185) which ensures affordable homes are built in smaller developments.
· The government lost a vote on Labour-backed amendment 119A (269 votes to 185) which ensures new homes include sustainable drainage provisions.
On Wednesday 20th the government lost two votes and conceded on a number of points:
· The government lost a vote on Labour-backed amendment 102ZA (251 votes to 194) which would give neighbourhoods a right of appeal on planning issues in their area.
· The government lost a vote on Labour amendment 102C (213 voted to 171) which specifies that ‘planning permission in principle’ applies only to housing-led developments.
On Monday 18th the government lost three votes and conceded a number of points:
· The government lost a vote on Labour-led amendment 72 (240 votes to 176) on making pay-to-stay measures introducing market rents for council tenants discretionary, as is currently the case, rather than mandatory as envisaged by the government.
· The government lost a vote on Labour-backed amendment 73 (281 votes to 179) on a lower 10p taper for households affected by pay-to-stay measures.
· The government lost a vote on Labour-backed amendment 76 (266 votes to 175) to increase the pay-to-stay income threshold by £10,000.
· The government made a number of minor concession including that regulations on pay-to-stay will have to be approved by Parliament, and excluding recipients of housing benefit or universal credit.
· The government signalled that they will make more significant concessions on Labour-backed compromise amendments allowing new fixed-term tenancies of up to 10 years rather than 5, and with special concessions for families who have children of school age. Labour Peers made clear they remain opposed to any weakening of security of tenure.
On Wednesday 13th the government lost one vote and was forced to offer concession in three other areas:
· The government lost a vote on amendment 53 (279 votes to 203 votes) which would make payments to the Secretary of State from the forced sale of council homes subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and approval. As introduced, the Bill would mean the government is able to force councils to sell homes without further recourse to Parliament.
· The government promised to go away and think on the Labour-backed amendment 64A which would ensure a one-for-one, like-for-like replacement for council homes sold under the forced sale. Labour will see what the Minister brings back before deciding whether or not we will seek further amendment to the Bill at third reading.
· The government have said they accept the Labour-backed case for amendment 62, protecting rural areas from the forced sale of council homes. Again, Labour will see what the Minister brings back before deciding whether or not we will seek further amendment at third reading.
· The government accepted a series of amendments including Labour-backed opposition amendments to include additional safeguards to stop bad landlords taking advantage of new rules allowing them to reclaim properties in cases of alleged abandonment.
On Monday 11th , the government suffered two defeats on its flagship ‘starter homes’ proposals, and was forced into conceding a third issue to avoid a defeat. The defeats were on amendments were designed to make starter homes more affordable - and better value for the taxpayer - by retaining the discount over a longer time period, and to stop them being imposed at the expense of vital affordable homes to rent and buy:
· The government lost a vote on amendment 1 tabled, with Labour front bench backing, would mean the 20% discount on starter homes is to be subject to a restriction if the property is sold. The discount would be paid back upon sale but with a reduction of 5% per year (1/20th) for a period of 20 years. The government was defeated by 275 votes to 181, an opposition majority of 94.
· The government lost a vote on amendment 8 tabled, with Labour front bench backing, would permit an English planning authority to decide how many starter homes are built, based on its own assessment of local housing need and viability. The government was defeated by 280 votes to 194, an opposition majority of 86.
· In addition to the two defeats, the Minister indicated that the Government would accept amendment 11 tabled by Cross-bench Lord Cameron of Dillington, with Labour front bench support, that would give English planning authorities the discretion to exclude the building of starter homes on special sites in rural areas.