Baroness Maddock
Main Page: Baroness Maddock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Baroness Hanham
My Lords, we have had a couple of debates in this House on the essential nature of getting proper housing for older people. I agree with the noble Lord that that would be helpful. It is up to local authorities to make their own plans and strategic decisions about the property that they need, which will of course include that which is necessary for older people so that they can either downsize and use their homes or have new build for them.
Baroness Maddock
My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend is aware that the various housing benefit changes are affecting the income forecasts for many social landlords. As a result, some social landlords are finding it difficult to borrow against those forecasts for new social housing. Can my noble friend tell me how the Government are responding to this, given that we have made a commitment to build more social homes for rent? Can she also say whether any of the announcements made in the Budget today will assist in this regard?
Baroness Hanham
My Lords, the announcement supporting privately developed housing will certainly assist. We are also very supportive of housing for rent and we have invested in it quite heavily over the past months and years. There is a complete recognition that housing for rent is essential. There is £10 billion of support for the delivery of new private rented housing as well as a further grant of £300 million for affordable housing. The Government are moving as far as they can to invest in the areas mentioned by the noble Baroness.