§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what strategy he has to meet the need for social housing over the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [73517]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 26 February 1999]Our aim is to offer everyone the opportunity of a decent home and so promote social cohesion, well-being and self-dependence. The provision of good quality, efficiently managed social housing plays an important part in meeting that aim.
We are making available an extra £5 billion for housing over the life of this Parliament, giving local authorities increased scope to invest in new social housing where this best reflects local needs and priorities, and boosting the Housing Corporation's support for new social housing relative to the last Government's spending plans.
However, the overall number of new social houses built is not a full or satisfactory measure of a successful housing strategy. Decisions on investment have to strike a balance between the need for new social housing and the requirement to invest in improvements to the existing social and private sector stock. They must also take proper account of the demand for social housing, which varies greatly between regions and even between local neighbourhoods. It is important, therefore, that investment decisions reflect local circumstances. The policies we are putting in place following the Comprehensive Spending Review are designed to ensure that investment decisions are based on robust local assessments of housing need, reflected in housing strategies drawn up by local authorities in partnership with their communities.