Housing and Regeneration Bill

Clause 31 enables the Homes and Communities Agency to engage in any business, including commercial undertakings such as public/private partnerships, but such activities must be in support of its housing and regeneration objects. I can tell good Conservatives who are concerned about this that these powers are modelled on those of the Urban Regeneration Agency, which was established by their own legislation back in 1993. These powers will be needed to allow the agency to carry on any business, including commercially established partnerships or funds or other such activities currently undertaken by English Partnerships, and to allow the HCA to continue to develop similarly innovative schemes, perhaps with the private sector, to support its broader objects. We do not want to inhibit the activities of the HCA when it works in the commercial field by failing to give it adequate powers. The noble Lord, Lord Mawson, who is not here today, asked of this Bill at Second Reading: "““Will it make the job of those of us who are seeking to innovate and enable residents to take more local control of their destinies easier or harder?””.—[Official Report, 28/5/08; col. 99.]" That was a good question. This clause is part of the way that this agency through this Bill is empowered to make it easier. The noble Lord, Lord Mawson, also stated: "““If the Government are serious about regeneration, then innovation, entrepreneurs and business are key components””.—[Official Report, 28/4/08; col. 101.]" I do not think that anyone in this Room would disagree with that. We certainly do not, and this clause, along with Clauses 32 and 46, forms an important part of our empowerment of the HCA to innovate and engage with entrepreneurs and businesses to help deliver its objects. Will the agency be able to operate any business that it sees fit? No, it is not intended through this provision to authorise trading activity on the open market in competition with private sector operators or suppliers, and the activity must fall clearly within the objects of the agency. So the agency would not be able open a fast-food restaurant, a new oriental hotel or any other sort of organisation, but the provision is intended to ensure that the agency can secure regeneration purposes and those involving community activity and innovation. That is what this is about. It is not a wider, more sweeping power. I hope that that helps the noble Lord, Lord Greaves.