Private Rented Sector

John Bercow Excerpts

Wednesday 25th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Relevant Documents: First Report from the Communities and Local Government Committee, Session 2013-14, on The Private Rented Sector, HC 50, and the Government’s response, Cm 8730.]

[Mr Speaker]

I inform the House that I have not selected the amendment in the name of the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas).

--- Later in debate ---

[Nick de Bois]

In the motion, there is much that many can support, but where I struggle is on what you are saying about fees. You talk about limiting rents—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am not talking about anything. I think that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the hon. Lady.

[Nick de Bois]

I apologise, Mr Speaker. The hon. Lady talks about limiting increases in a three-year contract, but surely, without the fees, all that the agencies will do is front-load increases: we will see incremental, large rises at the beginning.

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[Frank Dobson (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Could you ask the hon. Gentleman to tell us whether he warned my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) that he would be mentioned in this debate?

[Mr Speaker]

It is the normal courtesy so to notify. A simple nod of the head will suffice if the Minister did notify the hon. Gentleman.

[Nick Boles]

I entirely apologise—I did not know that that was the practice, and I should have. I assumed that the hon. Gentleman would be here because he is the Chair of the relevant Select Committee. I will write to him straight after the debate to apologise for having referred to him without warning him.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Colleagues will have noted that, on account of the level of interest, there is an eight-minute limit on Back-Bench speeches.