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Housing and the Credit Crunch

I can answer that directly and simply: the measure will be whether we have built more homes. If we do, we will reduce the housing waiting list. That simple measure is far more meaningful than targets, initiatives and programmes. If hon. Members are not satisfied that the programmes are not working, I can run through a list of more that are not helping people but are raising expectations. That is a cruel way to run housing policy; it is not doing any good, and we can do far better. The hon. Lady will know whether a future Conservative Government have been more successful because we will have built more homes and reduced the housing waiting list—two things that were achieved under previous Conservative Governments.