§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the availability of social housing. [123824]
§ Keith HillThe number of social housing dwellings provided by local authorities and registered social landlords for rent in England in 2002 was 4.2 million out of a total dwelling stock of 21.3 million.
New social housing dwellings are provided through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme with grants to registered social landlords. Funding for the programme is increasing by 997W £500 million this year to around £1.5 billion. The programme is expected to deliver at least 21,000 dwellings in 2003–04 for both rent and low cost home ownership.