§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what annual targets have been set for social housing construction. [16974]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy Department has not set annual targets for social housing construction. Official estimates of the newly arising need for social housing in England over the period 1991–2001, published in 1995, indicate a requirement for 60,000 to 100,000 lettings per year.
My Department has commissioned the Department of Applied Economics at Cambridge University to carry out a feasibility study of an economic model of housing need for the period 1996–2006. Ministers have not yet reached conclusions on this research, or on the proportion of housing need which will be met by means other than new construction. A report on the research will be published shortly.
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