Housing Demand (Hansard, 18 June 2002)

§ Andrew George
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what(a) advice he has received from (i) local authorities, (ii) the Housing Corporation, (iii) other statutory agencies and (iv) Government Departments about and (b) estimate he has made of the level of unmet housing need in each of the districts of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in each of the last five years for which records are available. [62593]

§ Mr. McNulty
The Government do not make estimates of housing need. Because of the wide variation in need between different parts of the country, the Government believe that local authorities are best placed to carry out local housing needs assessments, which should be reflected in local authorities housing strategies, investment plans, and in the implementation of planning powers for affordable housing.
Ensuring an adequate supply of housing, and a suitable balance between general market and affordable housing, is a key priority for the Government. We regularly receive letters from local authorities and other bodies concerning the need for housing, and take an interest in all such communication. The Government have increased investment in affordable housing through the Hou ing Corporation to £1.2 billion in 2003–04, nearly double 2000–01 levels.
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§ Andrew George
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the demand for(a) social rented, (b) private rented, (c) part purchase/part rent, (d) other forms of managed partly-owned accommodation and (e) private market housing from (i) newly formed family units and (ii) first time occupiers and purchasers. [62617]

§ Mr. McNulty
This Government do not produce national assessments of housing demand or targets for house building. Annual rates of housing provision to be kept under regular review are established through regional planning guidance and the spatial strategy it sets out. The strategy is prepared having regard to a number of matters including regional economic needs, the household projections produced by the ODPM, the capacity of urban areas to accommodate more housing, the physical and social infrastructure needed to support additional housing and the environmental implications of doing so.