Energy Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am very concerned about the amendment. This is one of the risks of the critical path that we have in the Bill. I accept that because of training requirements, the setting up of everything that has to be done, proper consultation, and because the Green Deal has to work effectively, preparation is crucial and we cannot expect it to start until 2012. That is the Government's expectation. Therefore, we have the whole of this year and some part of next year. It is logical to start the review of the private rented sector by 2013. It will not report until 2014 and therefore we could not precipitately take action until 2015. I like the direct approach on these issues of my noble friend Lord Dixon-Smith. If the policy is not working for tenants and landlords—which is one of the key areas of policy importance—the amendment would mean that we would have to twiddle our thumbs for four years from when the Bill gets Royal Assent. That worries me. There is logic in the current timeframe. It is questionable whether that is the case in the amendment of the noble Baroness. If the Bill goes through in its current form, it will be obvious within a year—if we are collecting any data—whether it is working in the private rented sector. Whether or not we have sophisticated analysis, we will have enough data-capture to understand whether it is starting to work. I would be fundamentally concerned, and would not believe it to be the case because of the importance of the programme, if the Secretary of State were just to sit in his chair—I know that he would not do this—and say, ““I’ve got to wait until 2014 to test this thing out and see whether I need to do anything else””. Surely that will not be the case. I could perhaps cope with local authorities not being empowered to take action before 2015, although I am very sceptical even about that timeframe. I ask the Minister to imagine what actions the Government might take, apart from the formal process detailed here, to make sure that the tenanted sector gets a move on. This is my problem with the issue. There are very good landlords. I have nothing against the private rented sector, which is crucial in delivering accommodation to families. However, the Bill’s timetable gives a signal that says, ““Actually, guys, you don't have to do anything until 2015. That's when we’ll start to get angry, and until then there won't be any pressure””.