Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Jackson of Peterborough Excerpts

Tuesday 17th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Simon Kirby]

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we have discussed this. It is the very issue that my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Stuart Andrew) will be discussing with the BBA and the FCA, and the Government are keeping a close eye on it.

[Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con)]

11. What fiscal steps he is taking to increase housing supply in (a) Peterborough and (b) England.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

Progress has been made since 2010, with housing starts now at an eight-year high. However, the scale of the challenge requires us to go further. That was why my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in the autumn statement that the Government will invest £5.3 billion in housing. This includes investing £2.3 billion in the new housing infrastructure fund, which will deliver up to 100,000 homes in high-demand areas, an additional £1.4 billion to deliver 40,000 new affordable homes, and £1.7 billion to deliver a programme of accelerated construction on public land.

[Mr Jackson]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that supporting the off-site construction of new homes, as we have been doing in Peterborough, is one important way to get more good-quality homes built quickly?