Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Carter (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 8 June 2006.

Housing: Affordable Rural Housing Commission

Question: My Lords, does the Minister agree that the recent government decision that will allow the retention of a proportion of affordable housing in rural areas is very welcome? Does he also agree that this is not enough on its own if the required number of affordable homes is to be built in the rural social housing sector?

Answer: My Lords, I entirely agree with the noble Lord. In her introduction to the report, Elinor Goodman, who chaired the commission, made a comment that rang a bell with me. She said: "Without housing which people on lower incomes can afford, rural communities will increasingly become dormitories for the better-off". That is the real challenge; we must stop that process. We will continue to pursue in a constructive vein the very measures that the report endorses.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 682 c1385
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Housing Low incomes Rural areas Affordable Rural Housing Commission
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk