The committee examines the expenditure, policy and administration of the Department of Communities and Local Government.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chairman: Dr. Phyllis Starkey MP, Milton Keynes South West, Labour Sir Paul Beresford MP, Mole Valley, Conservative Clive Betts MP, Sheffield Attercliffe, Labour Emily Thornberry, MP, Islington and South Finsbury, Lab John Cummings MP, Easington, Labour Greg Hands MP, Hammersmith and Fulham, Conservative Martin Horwood MP, Cheltenham, Liberal Democrats Anne Main MP, St. Albans, Conservative Bill Olner MP, Nuneaton, Labour Dr. John Pugh MP, Southport, Liberal Democrats David Wright MP, Telford, Labour

The committee is investigating issues around the supply of rented housing, covering areas such as social rented housing, the quality of homes, overcrowding, benefit traps and the ability of housing providers to acquire fresh new stock.

Oral evidence sessions have been heard from Minister of Housing Yvette Cooper MP, the London School of Economics and the ESRC Research centre, representatives of the property and letting sectors and city councils.

Refuse collection:

The committee is examining the collection of household refuse and recycling schemes.

MPs will look at the waste service levels provided by local authorities including alternate weekly collections, variable charges ("bin-chipping"), and the contribution that collection methods can make to promote easy and effective re-use and recycling.

The Committee is inviting submissions on these and related issues from interested organisations and individuals

Equality:

This is a short inquiry seeking to evaluate the creation of the Commission on Equality and Human Rights.

The CEHR will be launched in October 2007 and will have responsibility for promoting and enforcing legislation on gender, disability and race issues.