Starter Home Initiative

HL Deb 04 December 2002 vol 641 cc113-4WA

Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether their starter home initiative for key workers extends to rural areas; and, if so, to which ones. [HL193]

Lord Rooker

The starter home initiative aims to help key workers into home ownership in both urban and rural areas where the high cost of housing is undermining recruitment and retention. Funding was allocated in September 2001 and May 2002 to schemes which estimate they may assist over 400 key workers into home ownership in rural areas in the south east, eastern and south west regions. Information will be collated on the number of key workers who are assisted through the initiative to purchase homes in local authority areas containing rural settlements.