§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of housing costs on teacher recruitment. [146361]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisA survey of head teachers, school governors and local education authorities in London, produced in autumn 2000 by the Office of Manpower Economics on behalf of the School Teachers' Review Body, identified housing costs as a factor affecting the recruitment of teachers. The Government announced in December 2000 the Starter Homes Initiative, which has earmarked £250 million over three years to help teachers and other key workers buy their first homes.