Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if will he make it his policy to give priority to buyers in the property market who intend to live in the property over investors and buy-to-let landlords.

We recognise the adverse effect that large numbers of second homes can have on some areas, and that is why we have introduced a series of measures to help mitigate those effects, including introducing higher rates of stamp duty for purchases of additional properties, such as second homes.

We are committed to supporting first time buyers, and ensuring that enough homes are built in the places where people and communities need them. Our new First Homes scheme will provide new homes at a discount of at least 30 percent, prioritised for local first-time buyers.

Over 734,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since Spring 2010 through Government-backed schemes such as Help to Buy: Equity Loan and Right to Buy. New initiatives including First Homes, the new model of Shared Ownership and the £11.5 billion affordable homes programme will bring more affordable housing to those who need it.