Member

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Thornhill, for her amendment, which would introduce the requirement for the Secretary of State to publish guidance on a distinction between affordable housing and social housing for the purposes of this Act. In addition, the amendment would require the Secretary of State to consult before introducing the guidance. Where necessary, the Bill adopts the definition of social housing as defined in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. This definition encompasses both low-cost rental accommodation and low-cost home ownership. Clause 7 of the Bill makes reference to affordable housing in relation to exceptions to the right to buy. However, text inserted by subsection (3) of that clause, in new paragraph 18(1)(d), makes it clear that the relevant exception used is the definition of social housing from the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. More broadly, affordable housing and social housing are defined elsewhere in relation to specific aspects of government policy, and that includes a definition of affordable housing within the National Planning Policy Framework. I hope that the noble Baroness, Lady Thornhill, is reassured that in this Bill we have taken a consistent approach by adopting the definition in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and that further definition is not necessary at this point.