Well, local housing associations do not have the developed skills in this area. The developed skills in this area and the expertise lies outside local housing authority areas, so we wouldn't want to be putting additional burdens on local authorities, who I don't think would welcome those additional burdens. The courts, however, are regularly dealing with claims of this type, and they would be able to assist a contract holder through the process. Fixed-penalty notices work because they can be used quickly and easily by LHAs. The more we add to the process the more we become in danger of LHAs being reluctant in terms of enforcement of the provisions of the Bill, and, if LHAs end up chasing unpaid prohibited payments, they're actually diverted then from the actual enforcement work of investigating offences and issuing FPNs or bringing proceedings through the courts. So, we think in this scenario it is the courts that would be the appropriate way for these matters to be taken forward.

I'm grateful to—