Davey questions Government on Affordable Housing

14.4.03

Government have failed to deliver on new homes for Kingston

Last week in the House of Commons Edward Davey MP for Kingston and Surbiton questioned the Government on the lack of affordable housing for his constituents. In a question to the Government Minister he asked why fewer than 70% of the homes promised in 2000 under the Starter Homes Initiative have been built and why they refused to help councils realise the potential supply of affordable housing from empty homes.

The Government have promised 100,000 affordable homes by the end of 2004 yet so far they have not delivered. Edward Davey asked the government to explain what had happened to that target and what progress had been made. Affordable housing is a real problem in constituencies like Kingston and Surbiton and Britain presently needs 80,000 new homes a year to meet the requirements for affordable housing. This Government has overseen the lowest level of house building since 1924.

Edward Davey commented

"The Government have so far failed to deliver the affordable homes they promised. They must realise that constituencies like mine need new affordable homes.

"There are more empty homes than homeless people in every region of the country including London. Yet Ministers have failed to support councils to unlock the potential supply, putting empty properties to good use. When will the Government deliver on their old targets?

"I'm determined to keep up the pressure till Kingston gets the cash to tackle the chronic shortage of affordable homes. The Ministers answer to me last week in the Commons was complacent and flippant in the extreme."