§ 41. Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department has taken to encourage the building of low cost rented accommodation in the public or private sector.
§ 53. Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to encourage the building of low cost dwellings for rent in the private and public sectors.
§ Mr. GowIn the private rented sector we have taken a number of initiatives, including shorthold, to encourage landlords to make more accommodation available by removing disincentives to letting. I attach particular importance to assured tenancies. By enabling approved landlords to let newly built property outside the provisions of the Rent Acts the scheme can attract fresh investment into housing for private renting. So far 113 bodies have been approved to let on assured tenancies.
In the public sector, the Government have made available some £2.5 billion for housing investment by local authorities in both 1982–83 and 1983–84. It is for authorities themselves to determine their own priorities for investment, including on new building for rent, within that total. The Housing Corporation has allocated some £570 million in its 1983–84 development programme for new or rehabilitated fair rent housing and hostels.