HC Deb 22 February 1989 vol 147 c681W
23. Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on his policy with regard to the provision of low-cost housing in rural areas.

Mr. Chope

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 8 February (Official Report, columns 726–27). The Government are committed to tackling rural housing need, by enabling housing associations to provide rented accommodation in rural areas and encouraging private landlords and developers to invest in low-cost dwellings.

62. Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue new guidelines to local planning authorities on the provision of housing in rural areas.

Mr. Chope

New guidance is set out in the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on February 3 at columns 433–34. The local planning authorities have been notified.

67. Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding the provision of low-cost housing in rural areas.

Mr. Trippier

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from a variety of organisations. The Government's response to these representations is summarised in the answer that he gave my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 8 February at columns 726–27.