My Lords, I will speak to a number of amendments in this group. It has been a fascinating and exhaustive debate, even though there has been a mix of amendments.
I will start with Amendments 46 to 48, which are technical amendments in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, who simplified and explained them in a very eloquent and clear manner—even using Latin at the start of his introduction. I hope the Minister got the gist of that message in Latin; I cannot repeat it, but I think it purported to say that, if he listens to the message and applies it, he will leave a wonderful legacy through this Bill.
At the heart of the argument from the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, was consultation. Many noble Lords in this Committee have, at different stages of our lives, undertaken consultation; its value is essential to what we are doing today. I am really concerned that, if there is a lack of consultation or an element of tokenism—if we do not get residents, tenants’ groups and leaseholders on board—it could lead to what we often refer to as post hoc rationalisation of predetermined decisions. We need to take people with us on that journey, as I have said previously, and ensure that they feel as close as possible to the decision-making we are undertaking in this Committee and in subsequent debates in this Bill’s journey.
Amendment 49 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, makes provision regarding the contravention of requests for further information. Similarly, Amendment 50 would allow regulations to make provision for penalties where a principal accountable person fails to set up a proper complaints procedure or fails to do so in reasonable time.
The noble Lord referenced Clauses 93 to 99, which are seen as unfavourable for leaseholders and residents. The noble Baroness, Lady Fox—who has, by the way, introduced amendments for the first time; I congratulate her on completing that process successfully—raised concerns about Clauses 97 and 99. She said that last resort access should not be the new normal and that we must be careful about entrance on minor issues in particular.
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I found the speech of the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans inspiring. It was an excellent speech which raised a lot of issues. Amendment 50A talks specifically about the rights of tenants’ associations. How have the Government consulted tenants’ associations and leaseholders as part of this Bill so far? What was the method of consultation? Has the consultation already happened? The noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, said that at the heart of Dame Judith Hackitt’s review is engagement. What have the Government done in relation to that in particular?
The right reverend Prelate also mentioned some companies which were, unfortunately, exploiting the situation. An example referenced was the West India
Quay development, where £74,000 was spent on stopping and weakening leaseholders’ and residents’ groups. He said that there were too many instances where freeholders were ripping off leaseholders, and that leaseholders’ and residents’ groups were at the mercy of their landlord. That is unacceptable, and I hope that the Minister will reflect on those points and rectify the situation.
The Minister often describes noble Lords as the awkward squad.