Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Raynsford Excerpts

Monday 4th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)]

12. What steps he is taking to increase the number of housing starts; and if he will make a statement.

[Mr Nick Raynsford (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab)]

14. What steps he is taking to increase the number of housing starts; and if he will make a statement.

[The Minister for Housing (Mr Mark Prisk)]

Over the past 15 years or more, this country has been building half the number of homes that we need. This Government are determined to reverse that trend, by reforming the planning system, expanding the private rented sector and by building 170,000 more affordable homes.

[Mr Prisk]

In fact, the £19.5 million is an important investment, not least to try to reverse the fall in social housing under the previous Government of some 421,000 homes. We want to build those 170,000 homes, but there is a long way to go before we can clear up the mess that we have inherited.

[Mr Raynsford]

May I draw attention to my interests as declared in the register?

Over the past few weeks, the Minister has answered some very interesting questions, and has provided data about the new homes bonus. He will have looked at the figures as closely as I have, and will therefore know that it is not only very expensive but a complete failure. Does he accept that the 17 local authorities that are receiving the largest amount of new homes bonus are granting substantially fewer planning permissions than they were—37% below the levels of 2005-06, and 6% below the abysmal levels of last year?

[Mr Prisk]

Some of the questions were from the right hon. Gentleman, though whether they were interesting or not is another matter. I would say to him, if I may, that he needs to understand that the principle of the new homes bonus is very simple: “The more you build, the more you get.” That is why we see that Manchester, Sheffield and Bradford have shown the way. They are willing to do that, which is why we recognise that there will be at least 400,000 additional homes as a direct result of the bonus.