Member

I turn to the specifics of the amendments. Amendment 78, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, seeks to remove the ability of the Secretary of State to expand the definition of a relevant low-cost tenancy. If the Government or the social housing sector change the way the rent is determined or regulated in future, the power will allow the Secretary of State to make technical amendments to the definition in response to this or other changing circumstances. The power is set in the context of a relevant low-cost tenancy, reflecting the fact that the Secretary of State does not intend to use it to affect market-rate tenancies. I gently point out that the previous Government included an almost identical power in their Bill. The Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee has also reviewed the relevant power in both this and the previous Bill and has made no recommendations in relation to it.