§ 65. Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give urgent consideration to extending to London and other cities, the principle of encouraging the provision of affordable housing which already applies to rural areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Government's policy is to encourage provision of affordable housing in both rural and urban areas. We have recently taken a series of measures to promote the provision of low-cost housing to rent and buy in rural areas; but special priority continues to be given to inner-city areas in distributing resources to both local authorities and housing associations.
§ 86. Mr. John GarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider initiating a study into the feasibility of using the planning system in high land value areas to reserve land for affordable housing as a specific land use; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe general question of what role the planning system can and should play in helping to secure the provision of affordable housing has been raised in a number of the responses to the draft planning policy 751W guidance note on housing (PPG3) which we published for consultation last October. I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion in that context.