Telecommunications (Security and Governance) Bill - Clause 2

The amendment is crucial for ensuring that telecommunications companies implement stringent security measures. It will help protect against cyber threats and data breaches, safeguarding both national security and individual privacy.

Thanked the Minister's Department for swift action in dealing with social housing issues. Asked for assurance that once the legislation passes, tenants will have confidence their homes are fit for habitation.

Appreciated the Minister’s consultative approach. Inquired about further consultation needed on new clauses and secondary legislation to ensure regulations are correct before implementation.

Advocates for professional qualifications for social housing managers to prevent negligence and discrimination. Supports inspection coverage regardless of size and regularity. Pushes for tenant influence over regulatory standards. Calls for protection of tenants from violent threats, regulation of temporary accommodation, and legislation on remedying health hazards.

Supports new clause 6 to ensure tenants can access information about fire safety, damp, and mould. Argues for applying Freedom of Information Act standards to housing associations.

Welcomes the Bill as a positive step towards better regulation of landlords. Highlights issues faced by constituents in dealing with unresponsive housing associations and the need for strengthened guidance to address safety concerns.

The amendment aims to address the health and safety concerns in social housing by setting robust standards for investigating damp, mould, and other hazards. It also prioritises moves for tenants at risk due to poor conditions and mandates transparency from landlords.

Supports new clause 7 to protect social tenants facing threats of violence. Cites Georgia's experience and emphasises the current lack of automatic high priority for victims in housing allocation systems, which has resulted in lengthy waiting periods and loss of tenancy rights. Advocates that the amendment would prevent a significant burden on temporary accommodation and save public money by ensuring stability for affected families.

Amendment 41 would create an additional focus on finding solutions to homelessness by giving the regulator an objective to safeguard and promote the interests of homeless individuals. Amendment 42 requires reports on social housing stock adequacy and cladding removal progress, ensuring accountability for maintaining adequate social housing. Amendment 43 ensures equal notice periods for registered providers and tenants before surveys are conducted, promoting fairness in tenant relationships.

Intervened by suggesting that the regulation of multi-academy trusts could address issues related to children's education during moves caused by homelessness. Proposed restoring powers to local authorities or requiring academies to take in children for examinations, ensuring continuity and support for families moving due to housing instability.

Welcomes the constructive approach to the Bill but argues for more robust measures in inspection and tenant empowerment. Highlights the need for routine inspections by every registered provider to prevent tenant failures. Supports amendments aimed at ensuring tenant representation on advisory panels.

[INTERVENTION]: Raises concerns about the scope of inspections by the regulator, questioning whether they will extend beyond organisational frameworks to include property inspections. Urges for clearer guidance on inspection practices.

Contributed to the debate on Awaab’s law. Engaged constructively with Dehenna Davison following the tragic case of Awaab.

Engaged constructively in discussions on Awaab’s law, contributing to its development.

Expressed support for the debate and engaged with Dehenna Davison regarding Awaab’s law.

Proposed amendments to Government new clause 1 related to Awaab’s law, aiming for a more detailed definition of prescribed requirements.

Raised concerns and supported the extension of Freedom of Information Act to registered providers.

Campaigned on Georgia’s law, aiming for a measure that binds housing providers with policies ensuring flexibility in tenancy choices. Challenged the Minister's concerns about removing flexibility from social housing providers.

Tabled new clause 8 to drive up standards for tenants in temporary accommodation, focusing on the need for better regulation and oversight of social housing.

Discussed issues related to inspections and the importance of proactive consumer regulation regime.

Tabled amendment 41 regarding homelessness prevention, which was not accepted by the Minister due to existing legislation being adequate for achieving desired outcomes.

Supported the Bill and raised concerns about unscrupulous providers seeking loopholes in the regulatory regime.

The speaker thanked various stakeholders and acknowledged the Government's constructive approach in revising the bill. He emphasised the importance of overhauling social housing regulation to prevent deaths due to poor maintenance and management, highlighting delays from the Green Paper publication to the Bill passage. Despite supporting the Bill’s passage for urgent action on tenant conditions, he expressed hope that further strengthening could be considered.

The speaker briefly thanked the team behind the Minister for their work on transitioning from White Paper to Bill, acknowledging the commitment and contribution of individuals involved.