Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 12, subsection (1)(b), lines 39 and 40, to delete all words from and including "any" in line 39 down to and including "section 21" in line 40 and substitute the following:

"the demand for social housing as outlined in the assessment of need in its administrative area conducted in accordance with section 21".

This amendment relates to the content of housing services plans. We are not happy with section 15(1)(b) which states that in making a housing services plan, a housing authority must have regard to "any summary or summaries of social housing assessments prepared under section 21". As we think the reference could be a little stronger, we propose to amend it so that a housing authority must have regard to "the demand for social housing as outlined in the assessment of need in its administrative area conducted in accordance with section 21". We want to strengthen the reference to the need for social housing, thereby bringing this provision into line with other items under this section.