§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social workers, broken down by local authority area, have benefited from the Starter Home Initiative. [134812]
§ Keith HillThe priority groups for assistance under the Starter Home Initiative (SH I) are teachers, police, nurses and other essential health workers. A small 211W number of other key workers are being helped, including social workers in some areas. Funding was allocate in 2001 and 2002 based on the bids received, the recruitment and retention difficulties being experience across different areas and the relative cost of housing As at 30 September 2003, 45 social workers have beet helped to purchase homes under the SHI.
The following table sets out the breakdown by local authority.
Local Authority Number of social workers assisted Barnet 1 Basingstoke and Deane 5 Bexley 1 Brighton and Hove 4 Bristol 3 Broxbourne 1 Cambridge 5 Chichester 2 Ealing 3 Eastbourne 1 Guildford 1 Hackney 1 Hammersmith and Fulham 2 Harrow 1 Hastings 2 Kensington and Chelsea 1 Lewes 1 Oxford 1 Reading 2 Reigate and Banstead 1 St. Albans 1 Southampton 1 Watford 1 Woking 1 Wokingham 2 Total 45
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many public service workers have been assisted by the Starter Home Initiative, broken down by profession. [134813]
§ Keith HillAs at 30 September 2003, over 4,500 key workers have been helped to purchase homes under the Starter Home Initiative. The following table sets out the breakdown by key worker group.
Number of key workers helped to purchase homes Health workers 1,961 Teachers 1,896 Police 571 Other1 99 Total 4,527 1 Other key workers being helped under the Starter Home Initiative are social workers, care workers, fire fighters, transport workers, occupational therapists and (from July 2003) prison and probation service staff.