Lord Hacking (Lab)

I congratulate our Chair on going through these complicated provisions. She is doing very well and should receive congratulations from all of us. We now move on to the chapter relating to the private rented sector database, which is an essential component in the efficient bringing in of the provisions of the Bill. The database should be set up even before the Act comes into force. Amendment 219 seeks an obligation that the database operator must establish and operate the database within one year of the Act being passed. It seeks to set down a timetable for the bringing in of the database. All these amendments, like my earlier amendments, are meant to be tidying-up amendments and helpful to all of us taking part in this debate. The other amendments in my name in this group are Amendments 231 and 232. In an earlier version of the grouping, Amendment 237 was in this group but somehow it has disappeared. Can it be brought back to this group so we can discuss it as well? Amendment 231 would require “the database operator to ensure that facilities are available for persons to report breaches of any requirement” by means other than a computer. I have already spoken to the problems of the computer inept, including myself, and my noble friend the Minister is sympathetic on that issue. Amendment 232 would require “the database operator to ensure that facilities are available for people to access information on the database, in situations where they do not have access to a computer or electronic device”. Again, it would help those such as me, who are digitally inept. Amendment 237 would remove “the exception for landlords to be registered on the private rented sector database before a court can grant possession in cases” under ground 7A of the Housing Act 1998, as amended; for example, proceedings brought by the landlord for possession for anti-social behaviour. That seems to be a sensible amendment. There should not be restraint on a landlord bringing such proceedings, which are socially vital for the community in which those tenants are playing a part. Those are all the amendments. I hope I have been able to describe them lucidly and correctly to your Lordships. I beg to move.