§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions have been reached about accommodation for students; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreesonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I have concluded that, while no basic change is required in the responsibility and management of institution-provided student accommodation, further initiatives need to be taken on single person—including student—housing as part of general housing policies and programmes for which my Department, local authorities and the Housing Corporation are responsible. Nearly 200,000 students live outside halls of residence and away from their homes, and this figure is expected to increase in the next five years. In many cities and towns the number of single people, including students, is bringing increased pressure on good family accommodation for rent, which is already in short supply.
The Government have already taken steps to increase the supply of small dwellings to rent. DOE Circulars 170/74, 24/75 and 12/76, and the Department's Design Bulletins Nos. 23 and 29, all promote the development of dwellings for small households, including provision for single persons. Housing subsidies and grants are available to local authority and housing associations to help meet the cost of providing a wide-range of accommodation for single people. This includes hostels, bed-sitting rooms and fully self-contained flats, whether provided by new building or by conversion. Students should benefit along with other single people.
I have also decided that in the areas where student demand seriously impinges on the general housing market, particularly in areas of stress and pressure, housing schemes which in practice would be mainly occupied by students will be eligible for subsidy or grant, provided that they contribute directly or indirectly to meeting the general housing needs of the area. Schemes should normally provide for at least a proportion of non-students, but schemes for students only will be considered on their specific housing merits.
421WMy right hon. Friend and I believe, that, particularly where institutions of higher education are located in or near areas of housing stress and pressure, the authorities responsible for the institutions should examine the possibility of land which is not required for educational purposes being made available to local housing authorities for schemes of the kind I have described, or for general housing purposes.
I am asking the regional offices of the Department of the Environment to get in early touch with housing authorities and with the appropriate university and local education authorities to explore how best progress can be made with proposals on these lines.