Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Housing Associations: Right to Buy

Monday 16 May 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministers have committed to a 11 billion affordable homes programme.
  • The midlands pilots for the voluntary right to buy were completed in 2021.
  • The government is reviewing the independent evaluation and will announce further details.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mick Whitley
Housing
Context

The question arises from a review of the right-to-buy scheme's impact on housing associations.

Question

What steps he plans to take to extend right-to-buy schemes to housing associations. The midlands pilots for the voluntary right to buy were completed in 2021, and an independent evaluation was published; however, no further details have been announced yet.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The Government remain committed to the right to buy and spreading home ownership. The midlands pilots for the voluntary right to buy were completed in 2021, with an independent evaluation published. We are reviewing the findings and will announce further details in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed; only a commitment to review and announce details later was provided without specifics on timing or scope.

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Q2 Mick Whitley
Housing
Context

The question addresses the government's approach to tackling the severe shortage of social housing in the UK, with over 1 million households waiting for social homes. The questioner challenges the feasibility and morality of extending the right-to-buy scheme to housing association properties.

Question

There is a desperate shortage of social housing; more than 1 million households are waiting for social homes. Ministers have threatened to jettison their manifesto commitment to build 300,000 affordable homes yearly, refuse to commit to building council housing, and consider extending the right to buy scheme to housing association properties. Will extending this scheme worsen the housing shortage, cause continued misery for millions, and deal a grievous blow to thousands of constituents' hopes?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman is completely wrong. We have a very ambitious affordable homes programme with over £11 billion being spent on various options, and we are introducing an infrastructure levy contributing to affordable housing delivery. I do not understand why the hon. Gentleman has a problem with giving people in social housing the opportunity to become homeowners.

Not addressed: The specific ask was ignored; instead of addressing the consequences, the minister attacked the questioner's viewpoint and restated their commitment without evidence.

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