Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Luke Hall and Lord Barwell
Gavin Barwell
What we have done with the affordable housing programme is to give complete flexibility, so I cannot give a specific answer, because it will depend on the bids that housing associations make from the programme. There is complete flexibility in relation to tenure. The Government have had a policy of focusing on affordable rent rather than social rent, because that allows us to deliver far more homes for a given level of public subsidy.
Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Luke Hall and Lord Barwell
Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)
The Minister for Housing and Planning (Gavin Barwell)
We have huge plans in this area. One of the key objectives of the home building fund and the accelerated construction projects the Secretary of State announced at party conference is to encourage more use of offsite construction.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Luke Hall and Lord Barwell
Gavin Barwell
The simple answer to the Select Committee Chairman’s first question is yes, we are still committed to building a million new homes. Across this House, I hope, there is a consensus that we need to increase the level of house building. As I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake), we are looking at a mixed programme, including investment in affordable and intermediate rent, as well as shared ownership and helping people to own their own homes. I point the hon. Gentleman to the research that shows that 86% of our constituents want to own their own home. One of the critical things that we should all be trying to do is help people enjoy the opportunity that nearly all of us as Members of Parliament enjoy.
Luke Hall (Thornbury and Yate) (Con)
6. What steps his Department is taking to support high street retailers.