§ Matthew GreenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Barker Review of Housing Supply in the UK. [179884]
§ Keith HillThe Government do not intend to publish a single response to the Barker Review of Housing Supply in the UK. Kate Barker made a number of recommendations and, as my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer indicated in an initial reaction to the report when it was published, the time scale for responding to each of these will vary. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intend to announce our decision on new regional arrangements for planning by the end this year, following a consultation exercise to be launched next month, and have them in place by September 2005. Also in September 2005, we will publish a national housing market affordability goal, again, following consultation. Our aim will be to keep stakeholders fully informed as the work develops and to publish regular reports on overall progress.