§ 20. Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he proposes to increase the availability of low cost housing for local people in rural areas.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Housing Corporation is aiming to double the present level of provision by housing associations in rural areas, and I have agreed that the Rural Development Commission should increase its funding of the National Agricultural Centre rural trust for its work in support of rural housing associations. We shall be making a full statement shortly.
§ 21. Mr. Robert HicksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any fresh proposals to help reduce local authority housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyIt is for each local authority to decide the criteria for its waiting list. The findings of the study "Queuing for Housing", a report published by my Department in March this year showed that nearly half of those on current waiting lists no longer required local authority housing. It is clearly important, therefore, for authorities to review their lists and procedures regularly.
§ 31. Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what targets he is currently developing for housing starts in the north and midlands.
§ Mrs. RoeMy right hon. Friend does not have targets for housing starts. This is best left to the market. The Department's revised household projections for the period to 2001 were published on 15 February. I expect local planning authorities to consider these figures carefully in reviewing and extending their development plans.
§ 34. Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received calling for the construction of more new houses in the south-east.
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§ Mrs. RoeRecords are not kept in a form which directly answers my hon. Friend's question. Whilst many representations have expressed concern at the pressures for development in the south-east, there is also concern about housing shortages in some areas.
§ 50. Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action the Government are taking in order to ensure an adequate supply of low-cost housing in rural areas.
§ 58. Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he will take to assist the provision of modestly priced rural housing.
§ Mrs. RoeI refer my hon. Friends to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key).
§ 57. Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to bring into use for housing purposes privately-owned empty properties in England and Wales.
§ Mrs. RoeOur proposals in the Housing Bill for the deregulation of new lettings will enable private owners lo let their property at market rents. This will encourage owners of empty private houses and flats to let them.
§ 62. Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the provision of housing in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane under the north-east Hampshire structure plan, in relation to the demands of local commerce and industry.
§ Mr. WaldegraveHampshire county council's strategy towards the provision of housing in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane in relation to the demands of local commerce and industry was an issue raised at the examination in public held in November 1987 into aspects of the second alteration to the north-east Hampshire structure plan. My right hon. Friend will need to consider the report of the panel which conducted the examination in public before deciding whether to propose any modifications to the housing or employment provisions for the Basinstoke and Deane borough.