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Housing and the Credit Crunch

You have got to love those targets. The simple fact is that targets have not worked, so what is the point of putting more targets in place? There is almost an obsession with targets. I know that they are comforting and that people feel better when there is a target, but it is cruel to have a target that is not delivered because it disappoints people. For example, twice as many homeless children live in temporary accommodation in this country than 10 years ago, despite the targets to do away with homelessness and child poverty. Such targets are not helping. To answer the hon. Gentleman's question, if we find that not enough housing is being built, including affordable housing, we will increase the incentives. We will not increase the target even though it is not being delivered.