Lord Best (CB)

My Lords, this has been an incredibly rich group of amendments. I think we have all appreciated the contributions of all noble Lords on these six amendments. Perhaps I could confine my closing remarks to Amendments 61, 62 and 65, on all of which the Minister has expressed not just sympathy but a willingness to do something further. I know that Amendment 61, on where people have to forfeit the right to a secure tenancy when they have been advised by the police to move out to temporary accommodation, has struck a nerve. I am grateful to the noble Baronesses, Lady Warwick of Undercliffe, Lady Teather and Lady O’Neill of Bexley, for their support for this amendment. All of them also supported Amendment 62, where we are seeking clarification of the law on gaining access for safety checks that are for the benefit of the occupiers, but where access is being denied. The Minister said that further consideration will be given to both these amendments. It is clear that existing provisions are not working, even if they exist. She has generously agreed not just to meet in relation to the forfeiting of rights to secure tenancies when moved on by the police, where a meeting will be held with myself and colleagues, but to convene a session, on the guidance that is evolving, with the Ministry of Justice on the opportunities to gain access where that is, at the moment, being denied. These are helpful concessions from the Minister, and I am very grateful. This brings me to Amendment 65 and the very powerful speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Neate. I think we are all deeply grateful to her for bringing her lifetime of experience and understanding of these issues to the debate. I am grateful, too, to the noble Baroness, Lady May, for supporting this amendment, as did the noble Baronesses, Lady Lister, Lady Warwick and Lady Teather. I think the Minister has agreed to take this away and, in considering the updating of guidance, which is clearly out of date on these issues, to have another go and, again, to convene a session at which further debate can take place on this crucial issue, which has been very well explored in the Committee today. It is a tribute to the Committee to have been part of this debate. I beg leave to withdraw Amendment 61.