Speeches by Pennycook.

“I am not going to speculate on its contents, but again that is a really good example that gets at the Committee’s thinking, because we have a whole digital planning programme that we are rolling out with the Extract and APD tools. We made a recent announcement on this. There is lots of detail out there. The absence to …”

“Not really. In Committee we touched on some things that we think are really logical and uncontroversial things for it to track—for example, gas and electrical safety certificates. I made a big point of this in opposition. There are lots of requirements that have grown up around section 21 notices that it would be very …”

“That is the type of issue we are trying to get more evidence on, and why we have had to go out for a further technical consultation to try to get more, so that we have a basis to make a rational decision on.”

“There are undoubtedly concerns that exist about that minimum percentage. We think that is the right thing to have proposed and are working through all the feedback. I suppose what I am saying in terms of the framework is that that proposal obviously did not exist before. It is what we are proposing to come forward as w…”

“I can check whether I am correct but I believe I am aware of whole-borough article 4s. I had an Adjournment debate on one the other day. I will just make this final point. We consulted in the NPPF on proposals for a more flexible policy in relation to the use of article 4 directions, so that planning authorities can re…”

“Just to supplement that, the bar for an exemption has to be extremely compelling in my mind. Let us see the evidence as to whether or not this type of lease meets that bar.”

“This is a really important question. I see it in my own postbag and advice surgeries on a weekly basis, as I am sure Committee members do. Again, it comes back to the role of the Department in the regulatory framework that has been established. We monitor overcrowding at a building level to the extent that the HHSRS mo…”

“I agree with lots of that. That is very useful feedback. More of that please. I encourage the Committee to do a review and a response on this specifically. We would love to get at some of the issues of consultation lengths and all the rest of it. I will just say as a slight counterweight there is a role for HMOs in the…”

“That is precisely what we sought to investigate further through the pre-legislative scrutiny process. In the policy document that we published on ground rents specifically, you will remember that we sought further evidence on whether there is a justification for certain exemptions. We drew particular attention to negot…”

“You are confusing a proposal from us with evidence seeking. As I said, we have evidence that negotiated quid pro quo leases exist, but we do not know how prevalent they are. We are seeking evidence on whether any exemption for them is justified given their nature. We are not proposing a roll-out of quid pro quo leases …”

“I would not say it is fair to characterise what we have done as prioritising quid pro quo leases. As I said, we need further evidence and have launched the technical consultation. We are hoping to publish the consultation on valuation rates imminently. As Committee members will know, that sits within the context that w…”

“Sorry, what do you mean by consulting on ground rents?”

“That is a tough question. I hear bandied about fairly often that as a Government we came into office without a plan.”

“I am sure you do. We had developed in opposition a very well thought-through, detailed and comprehensive plan with respect to housing and planning legislation and policy. I would argue we have ruthlessly executed that over the past two years. If I recount all the things we have done, they include overhauling the planni…”

“That is a really good and topical question and I will answer it. For reasons that are best known to you—Chair and the Committee—this is a very wide-ranging session in terms of topics, lots of which are very technical. I am not going to dominate; I am going to pass to Emma and Jo to fill in and take some questions. On o…”

“Do I think the MHCLG should be nationally monitoring temperatures in individual homes?”

“Let me take those in two parts, with a caveat on the last one that I am not the Minister responsible for building regulations specifically, but I am more than happy to talk to them. Again, there is a slightly complex picture, which I can hopefully explain in a way that the Committee can follow. When I go back to the ge…”

“We have not announced a timeline for the completion of that technical review.”

“I will be absolutely honest with the Committee.”

“No. In terms of pre-empting announcements to Parliament and giving you specific dates, we have made it really clear. You are always willing to try but you are not going to extract.”