Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Creagh Excerpts

Thursday 10th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

I could not put it any better myself. That is exactly our intention. This shows that if one works with the grain of human nature by, instead of bullying people and telling them what to do, allowing them to share in the success, then—miracle of miracles—we might have people who support development of all kinds in this country.

[Mary Creagh (Wakefield) (Lab)]

19. What estimate he has made of the effect on the number of affordable homes of planned reductions in spending under the Kickstart and national affordable housing programmes.

[The Minister for Housing (Grant Shapps)]

The national fiscal position is severe, and we have had to make some very difficult decisions on savings. That is why on 24 May we announced that the Government would be making £6.2 billion of savings this year. We have estimated that planned savings in the housing programme will reduce the number of affordable houses. That is why we brought forward another £170 million to ensure that 4,000 could be completed.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mary Creagh.

[Mary Creagh]

Thank you, Mr Speaker; it is an honour finally to be called by you. [Hon. Members: “Oh!”]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. People should not be so unkind. I know that the hon. Lady was not criticising the Chair—she would not do that.

[Mary Creagh]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would never dare to criticise you, as you well know.

I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his new role. The residents of the Lupset estate in Wakefield are anxiously scanning the horizon for the sounds of his private plane jetting in to tell them which of their homes are going to survive the cuts to the decent homes standard. We are also very concerned about what calculation is made as regards the impact on the construction sector of the net cut of £60 million in the affordable housing programme. How will that cut affect the 1.8 million families he is so concerned about who are languishing nationally on the council lists?

[Mr Speaker]

That was three questions, but we will have one answer from the Minister.