Oral Answers to Questions

David Lammy Excerpts

Monday 25th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

Our banding floors protect the councils that are in the greatest need. For example, funds for the right hon. Gentleman’s own council, which still has a spending power of about £2,100 per household, are being reduced by just 1.5%, the English average being 1.3%. That is line with what the Government expect local authorities—which take up 25% of public spending—to do to clear up the mess of the deficit and debt left by the last Labour Government.

[Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab)]

9. If he will review the operation of the new homes bonus.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Kris Hopkins)]

The new homes bonus is already being evaluated, and a report will be published in the spring of 2014.

[Mr Lammy]

Will the Minister say something about why the scheme that his Prime Minister set up has been such a disaster? Just 1,427 homes have been built under this scheme, although we need 800,000 homes in London, because there is a huge demand problem. The average London deposit now costs our young people £100,000.

[Kris Hopkins]

I am sorry, but the right hon. Gentleman clearly does not understand the scheme. It has delivered some £1.3 billion to local authorities, including about £5.5 million for his own authority.