Housing Benefit (Abolition of Social Sector Size Criteria)

Debate between Mark Harper and Baroness Bray of Coln

Wednesday 17th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Harper]

I have given way to an Opposition Member, so I give way to my hon. Friend.

[Angie Bray]

I absolutely appreciate the principle that we need to match housing to housing need, and we certainly need more family-sized houses for larger families. Does my hon. Friend agree, however, that for the spare room subsidy policy to work fairly, as well as effectively, there will have to be a sufficient number of one-bedroom properties for those who have to downsize to move into, so that they do not face penalties when they are trying to do the right thing but cannot?

[Mr Harper]

My hon. Friend makes a good and sensible point. It is worth putting on the record that there are 1.4 million one-bedroom homes across the social rented sector, with significant turnover. Sixty per cent. of social sector tenants require only one bedroom because they are single or childless couples, and local authorities and housing associations are now starting to match their new building more accurately to that profile. Seventy-seven per cent. of homes approved under the new affordable housing scheme are one or two-bedroom homes—up from 68% in the last round—and the proportion of one -bedroom homes is up from 17% to 20%. The policy is having the desired effect in terms of the building of new homes.