A key housing manifesto pledge by the government now has only a slim chance of becoming law, after it fell victim to a bizarre twist of parliamentary procedure and was "talked out" of the House of Commons by its own sponsor last week.
The Home Energy Conservation Bill was being used as the govern-ment's vehicle to pass its 1997 election promise to provide a national licens-ing scheme for houses in multiple occupation.

This would give councils powers to ensure that rogue landlords were prevented from providing sub-standard accommodation in converted houses.

However, the government was defeated on an amendment to another part of the bill, which called for fuel poverty to be reduced by 30 per cent by 2010.

This resulted in the bill being delayed until its next scheduled reading on 19 July.

Ben Jackson, Shelter's director of external affairs, expressed disappointment with the outcome. "[The bill's] chances of becoming law are now very slim, and so a national licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation will be delayed again."

This effectively means that the bill is now likely to be dropped, as it is doubtful that it will pass to the House of Lords before the summer break.

Sue Doughty, the Liberal Democrats' shadow environment minister, accused the government of employing "wrecking tactics" in order to save face.

She said: "The government has taken its paranoia to new levels in forcing the mover of a bill it had [formerly] supported to talk it out."

Under parliamentary procedure a private member's bill is lost if the debate overruns its allotted time. The tactic is normally used by other MPs opposed to a measure.

But in this case the Labour MP who initially proposed the bill, Desmond Turner, did the "talking out".

Brighton Kemptown MP Turner said: "The bill was talked out in order to give the government time to think what to do next. [It] still wants the bill, but I'll [first] have to negotiate a satisfactory settlement with the relevant ministers."

Source

Housing Today