Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Lazarowicz Excerpts

Tuesday 9th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

That particular measure has not brought in as much as was forecast, but I can point to others that have brought in more than was forecast. One example is disguised remuneration, which the Office for Budget Responsibility highlighted last week and has brought in more than was anticipated. We anticipated that it would bring in £750 million a year; it will bring in more than that. By the way, that measure was opposed by the Labour party.

[Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op)]

10. What recent assessment he has made of the effect of the housing market on the economy.

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Andrea Leadsom)]

The Government are committed to making the aspiration of home ownership a reality for as many households as possible. The Government’s Help to Buy scheme and last week’s stamp duty reforms will continue to support housing market activity and new housing supply is already responding with housing starts growing by 16% in the year to 2014 in quarter three.

[Mark Lazarowicz]

The recent measures are no doubt welcome, but would the Minister care to confirm that annual house completions have been lower in every year under her Government than in every year of the last Labour Government?

[Andrea Leadsom]

The point is that we believe in the aspiration to buy your own home. We have seen house prices recover but they are still in real terms lower than they were at the peak under the last Government. This Government have delivered housing starts at their highest since 2007 and our Help to Buy scheme, which has helped 77,000 people to get on to the property ladder, is a very important measure.