PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOUSING FOR RENT (28 June 2010)

That this House believes that investment in existing and new council housing is an urgent priority to avert a growing housing crisis, leading to a failing housing market and growing housing waiting lists; notes that council housing is cheaper to build, manage and maintain than any alternatives and provides affordable housing for those who cannot afford to buy as well as essential security, lower rents and an accountable landlord; points out that the underfunding acknowledged in the last Government's council housing finance review, the backlog of capital works and the need to improve energy efficiency all require increased funding in any Housing Revenue Account Reform settlement, to allow every council to deliver and maintain the decent homes and estates people need; and further notes that the best way of combating recession and providing jobs is a big building programme of public housing for rent of the type which is most desperately needed now, and that the only way to allow for greater mobility of council and social housing tenants to enable them to move to where the jobs are is not to reduce the security of tenure to which tenants have a right, but to increase the stock of public housing so that it can not only cope with the increased demand but also allow for more mobility of tenants.

Sponsored by:
Austin Mitchell (Labour)