§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposed housing market renewal fund. [39038]
§ Ms Keeble[holding answer 28 February 2002]: Low demand for housing is adding to the decline of many of our inner cities and towns, particularly in the north. It blights communities, and the lives of those who live in the areas affected. We are determined to tackle this, and the Government have made a commitment to turn around the incidence of low demand by 2010.
A number of northern local authorities and housing associations have submitted a proposal to Government for a strategic housing market renewal fund to tackle areas of the country most adversely affected by low demand. We are considering the housing market renewal fund proposal in the context of the current spending review. We can make no commitments in advance of its conclusions.