HC Deb 31 October 2000 vol 355 c389W
34. Angela Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what support and assistance he plans to give to key workers seeking affordable accommodation in south Essex. [133335]

Mr. Raynsford

In April this year, in our Housing Green Paper, we sought comments on our proposals for a starter home initiative, which will help key workers in high price, high demand areas to buy their own homes, while helping their employers address their recruitment needs. We announced in July that £250 million would be available over the next three years to fund this initiative and we will be announcing further details about it later this year. In the meantime, the increased investment through local authorities and the Housing Corporation, together with our planning policies for housing, will also help to increase the supply of affordable housing where it is most needed.