Baroness Scott of Bybrook:

Moved by Baroness Scott of Bybrook

49: Clause 31, page 30, line 13, at end insert—“11C A duty of the housing ombudsman to monitor compliance with a code of practice described in item 11A that it has issued.”Member's explanatory statementThis requires a housing ombudsman scheme to place a duty on a housing ombudsman to monitor compliance with a code of practice on complaint handling (if the ombudsman has issued one).

50: Clause 31, page 30, line 13, at end insert— “(2A) In paragraph 2, in sub-paragraph (1), in item 15, for “expenses of the scheme” substitute “costs of the person administering the scheme and the scheme’s housing ombudsman”.”Member's explanatory statementThis amendment is consequential on the amendment to Clause 31, page 30, line 21 in the Minister’s name.

51: Clause 31, page 30, line 21, at end insert—“(4) In paragraph 11—(a) after sub-paragraph (1) insert—“(1ZA) The amount of a subscription payable by a member may be calculated by reference to costs incurred, or likely to be incurred, by the person administering the scheme and the scheme’s housing ombudsman in carrying out any of their functions, including costs unconnected with the member and costs unconnected with the operation of the scheme.”;(b) in sub-paragraph (1B), for “expenses”, in both places, substitute “costs”;(c) in sub-paragraph (1C)—(i) for “expenses”, in the first place it occurs, substitute “costs”;(ii) for “expenses of the scheme” substitute “costs”.”Member's explanatory statementThis makes it clear that subscriptions payable by members of a housing ombudsman scheme may be set at a level to cover all of the costs of the scheme administrator and the ombudsman, including, for example, enforcement costs and other costs unrelated to the scheme.

Amendments 49 to 51 agreed.

Clause 31, as amended, agreed.

Amendments 52 and 53 not moved.

Clause 32 agreed.

Schedule 5: Minor and consequential amendments and transitory provision