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Brown unveils mortgage help plan Brown unveils mortgage help plan
(about 1 hour later)
People hit by the downturn will be able to defer part of their mortgage interest payments for up to two years under plans unveiled by Gordon Brown. Many people hit by the downturn will be able to defer part of their mortgage interest payments for up to two years under plans unveiled by Gordon Brown.
The plan is designed to give those who lose their jobs or take a big cut in their income an extended breathing space before their home is at risk. The plan is designed to give those who lose their jobs or suffer a big cut in income extended breathing space if they are facing repossession.
The scheme will cover mortgages worth up to £400,000, the BBC understands.The scheme will cover mortgages worth up to £400,000, the BBC understands.
The proportion of interest payments to be deferred, up to 100%, will be agreed between homeowners and their lender. The lender and homeowner will agree on the proportion of payment to be deferred, but it could be up to 100%.
Mr Brown made the announcement during a House of Commons debate on the Queen's Speech, which took place earlier.Mr Brown made the announcement during a House of Commons debate on the Queen's Speech, which took place earlier.
The prime minister told MPs the eight major lenders had signed up to the plan, which is meant to cut the risk of homes being repossessed amid predictions repossession numbers could rise to 75,000 next year. The scheme is due to start early in the new year. The prime minister told MPs the eight major mortgage lenders had signed up to the plan, which will start early in the new year and is meant to cut the risk of homes being repossessed.
It comes amid predictions repossession numbers could rise to 75,000 next year.
'Clever scheme''Clever scheme'
Mr Brown said: "Hardworking households that experience a redundancy or significant loss of income as a result of the downturn will be able to defer a proportion of their interest payments for up to two years while they get their family finances back on track."Mr Brown said: "Hardworking households that experience a redundancy or significant loss of income as a result of the downturn will be able to defer a proportion of their interest payments for up to two years while they get their family finances back on track."
What's happened today is that the prime minster has made it less of a financial strain for the bank to leave the Slightly-Stretcheds in their home Robert Peston Read more from Robert PestonQ&A: Mortgage planReaction to help plan What's happened today is that the prime minster has made it less of a financial strain for the bank to leave the slightly stretched in their home Robert Peston Read more from Robert PestonQ&A: Mortgage planReaction to help plan
In a separate move, he announced government-owned lenders Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley had joined Lloyds TSB in agreeing that repossession proceedings would not begin until households were six months behind on their payments. In a separate move, he announced government-owned lenders Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley had followed RBS's lead in agreeing that repossession proceedings would not begin in any case until households were six months behind on their payments.
He urged other "responsible banks" to follow their lead.He urged other "responsible banks" to follow their lead.
Government sources say they hope the moves will not just reduce the number of homes repossessed but will reduce the widespread fear of repossession as well.Government sources say they hope the moves will not just reduce the number of homes repossessed but will reduce the widespread fear of repossession as well.
BBC Business Editor Robert Peston said it was a "clever" scheme and "most banks will give it a go because they don't want to be seen to be turfing people out of their homes". BBC business editor Robert Peston said it was a "clever" scheme and "most banks will give it a go because they don't want to be seen to be turfing people out of their homes".
But he said it was not clear if the scheme meant "repossession avoided or simply deferred for two years" and a lot would depend on whether the economy will recover. But he said it was not clear if the scheme meant "repossession avoided or simply deferred for two years" and a lot would depend on whether the economy recovers.
The full details of the scheme - such as who is eligible and what proportion of mortgage interest payments would be covered - have yet to emerge. The full details of the scheme have yet to emerge, but it is understood the government will underwrite interest payments, which will then have to be repaid in full at a date to be agreed with the lender.
But it is understood the government will underwrite interest payments, which will then have to repaid in full at a date to be agreed with the lender.
Insurance schemeInsurance scheme
The scheme could help a two-income family where one earner has become redundant, a homeowner who has suffered a significant loss of overtime or people who have had to take a lower-paid job, Downing Street said.The scheme could help a two-income family where one earner has become redundant, a homeowner who has suffered a significant loss of overtime or people who have had to take a lower-paid job, Downing Street said.
People may also agree to convert a repayment mortgage into an interest-only loan to take advantage of the scheme, the prime minister's official spokesman said. People could also convert a repayment mortgage into an interest-only loan to take advantage of the scheme, Mr Brown's official spokesman said.
The plan is designed to boost the wider economy, with government source describing repossession as "a small risk of something disastrous happening to you" which thus had a major depressing effect on confidence. The plan is designed to boost the wider economy, with a government source describing repossession as "a small risk of something disastrous happening to you" which had a major effect on confidence.
As always with Gordon Brown, don't just look at the headline, look at the detail George OsborneShadow chancellorAs always with Gordon Brown, don't just look at the headline, look at the detail George OsborneShadow chancellor
Currently, those on benefits have their mortgage interest payments covered for two years if their mortgages is below £200,000. Currently, those on benefits have their mortgage interest payments covered for two years if their mortgage is below £200,000.
The government's plan is effectively a government mortgage insurance scheme, which will work by the Treasury underwriting the extra risk that banks take.The government's plan is effectively a government mortgage insurance scheme, which will work by the Treasury underwriting the extra risk that banks take.
The banks will not need extra capital in order to cover the extended risk they take that people will default on their mortgages. The banks will not need any extra capital to cover the extended risk of people defaulting on their mortgages.
The theory, therefore, is that the move will not reduce the funds available for other borrowers.The theory, therefore, is that the move will not reduce the funds available for other borrowers.
In a worst case scenario it is thought the government would be exposed to £1bn in risk, with the cost to the taxpayer of the scheme likely to be about £100m, government sources suggest. In the worst-case scenario, it is thought the government would be exposed to £1bn in risk, with the cost to the taxpayer likely to be about £100m, government sources suggest.
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, for the Conservatives, said he would not comment until he had studied the announcement, which was not in the Queen's Speech, more fully. Question of detail
"As always with Gordon Brown, don't just look at the headline, look at the detail," said Mr Osborne. Shadow chancellor George Osborne said he would not comment until he had studied the announcement, which was not in the Queen's Speech, more fully.
The Tories said later that two banks said to be committed to the plan - Lloyds TSB and HBOS - had not yet agreed to the details of the scheme "As always with Gordon Brown, don't just look at the headline, look at the detail," he said.
The Tories said later that two banks said to be committed to the plan - Lloyds TSB and HBOS - had not yet agreed to the details of the scheme.
Lloyds TSB spokesman Stephen Pegge said the plan was "welcome" as part of range of measures to help homeowners but confirmed it had not seen the details yet.Lloyds TSB spokesman Stephen Pegge said the plan was "welcome" as part of range of measures to help homeowners but confirmed it had not seen the details yet.
"We want to work with the government to make sure this will really work," he told Channel 4 News."We want to work with the government to make sure this will really work," he told Channel 4 News.
Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable said he believed the plan would be a "positive step" in helping to slow down the repossession process. An HBOS spokesman said the bank was "committed to working with customers who are experiencing financial difficulty to help them stay in their own homes" but needed to work through the detail of the initiative with ministers.
But he said no-one should be under any illusion that the broader crisis facing the economy was going to abate quickly. Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable said he believed the plan would be a "positive step" in helping to slow down the repossessions process.
But he warned that people must study the small print to see who would benefit and what knock-on effect the plan would have on banks' wider lending policies.
Queen's speechQueen's speech
It comes as new estimates from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) suggest repossessions will rise sharply to 75,000 next year. That would be almost as many as during the peak of the last recession in 1991. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said on Wednesday that it estimated repossessions would rise sharply to 75,000 next year.
The CML believes that repossessions, already rising steadily, will hit 45,000 this year. That would be almost as many as during the peak of the last recession in 1991.
The CML believes repossessions, already rising steadily, will hit 45,000 this year.
The number of repossessions jumped by 12% in the third quarter of the year, according to CML figures, with 11,300 homes taken back in that period.The number of repossessions jumped by 12% in the third quarter of the year, according to CML figures, with 11,300 homes taken back in that period.
Earlier, in the Queen's Speech, the government said fighting the economic downturn was its "overriding priority" for the year ahead. In the Queen's Speech, the government said fighting the economic downturn was its "overriding priority" for the year ahead.
In a slimmed down legislative programme, it unveiled proposed legislation aimed at preventing another banking crisis and protect depositors. In a slimmed down legislative programme, it unveiled proposed legislation aimed at preventing another banking crisis and protecting depositors.
Families on lower incomes are to be encouraged to save more through financial incentives.Families on lower incomes are to be encouraged to save more through financial incentives.
And a voluntary code of conduct requiring banks to give customers notice if they plan to withdraw or alter credit facilities will be made mandatory, the government said, but this is not part of the Banking Bill.And a voluntary code of conduct requiring banks to give customers notice if they plan to withdraw or alter credit facilities will be made mandatory, the government said, but this is not part of the Banking Bill.
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