Social Housing

Lord Shipley Excerpts

Monday 24th May 2021 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Shipley]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase the number of social housing homes for rent.

[Lord Shipley (LD) [V]]

My Lords, I remind the House of my register of interests and beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Minister of State, Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Lord Greenhalgh) (Con)]

We have confirmed £12 billion over the next five years, which will be the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade. This includes our new £11.5 billion affordable homes programme; around half of its delivery will be for social and affordable rent. We expect our new programme to deliver around 32,000 social rent homes, double the number of the current programme.

[Lord Shipley (LD) [V]]

I thank the Minister for his reply. House prices have been rising steadily because of demand-side subsidies by the Government for owner-occupation, yet the National Housing Federation estimates that almost 4 million people need the security of a home for social rent because they cannot afford to buy. I ask the Minister whether he thinks that the Government have got their priorities right.

[Lord Greenhalgh (Con)]

My Lords, of course I think that we have got our priorities right. We are focusing on building homes of all types and tenures. That includes affordable and social rent and, importantly, giving people the opportunity to buy and own their own home.