Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 26 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 31 January 2006. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 January 2006 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Overcrowding (Children)

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made since 1997 in reducing the number of children living in overcrowded conditions in the south east; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Using data from the Survey of English Housing it is estimated that over the three-year period 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99, the number of children in the south east region living in overcrowded households, based on the bedroom standard, was 100,000. This is the same as the estimate for the latest available period: 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05.The Government have doubled its investment in social housing from 1997 levels, and the Housing Corporation has now taken steps to encourage investment in larger homes through its National Affordable Housing Programme, so that more large homes can be built.

Secondary information