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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Housing 'not favouring migrants' | Housing 'not favouring migrants' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There is no evidence that new arrivals in the UK are able to jump council housing queues, an Equality and Human Rights Commission report says. | There is no evidence that new arrivals in the UK are able to jump council housing queues, an Equality and Human Rights Commission report says. |
| Once they settle and are entitled to help, it adds, the same proportion live in social housing as UK-born residents. | Once they settle and are entitled to help, it adds, the same proportion live in social housing as UK-born residents. |
| The prime minister has said guidance would change so that local people get priority for social housing in England. | |
| Housing minister John Healey said the changes were designed to tackle the "myth" that the system was unfair. | |
| 'Nailing myths' | |
| He insisted the changes would not alter the current requirement for council housing to be awarded on the basis of need or the policy that economic migrants cannot apply for housing for the first five years after settling in the UK. | |
| But councils would get more "leeway" to deal with specific housing pressures in their areas. | |
| The report shows there is a belief, a wrong belief, that there is a bias in the system John Healey | |
| The British National Party has campaigned heavily on the issue, claiming that British people are being short-changed for housing in favour of newly arrived immigrants. | |
| Mr Healey said it was "wrong" to say the government had been forced into action to counter the BNP's arguments after it succeeded in getting two Euro MPs elected. | |
| But he added that he wanted to "nail the myth" that certain groups were losing out in terms of housing allocation. | |
| "It is largely a problem of perception," he told Today. | |
| "The report shows there is a belief, a wrong belief, that there is a bias in the system." | |
| Although the rules would not change, Mr Healey said new guidance to councils will enable them to help people who have been waiting the longest or those, in rural areas, who have strong local or family connections. | |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| "There is more we can do to give local authorities more freedom and scope to give more preference," he said. | |
| EHRC chairman Trevor Phillips has blamed a "failure of social housing supply" for concerns that migrants jumped queues. | |
| The report - based on figures from the 2007 Labour Force Survey - was carried out by the centre-left Institute for Public Policy Research think tank. | The report - based on figures from the 2007 Labour Force Survey - was carried out by the centre-left Institute for Public Policy Research think tank. |
| According to the study, 64% of people who arrived in the UK within the last five years live in private rented accommodation. | According to the study, 64% of people who arrived in the UK within the last five years live in private rented accommodation. |
| Just 11% of new arrivals get help with housing - almost all of them asylum seekers. | Just 11% of new arrivals get help with housing - almost all of them asylum seekers. |
| But after five years, when many immigrants are able to get residency and become entitled to government help, one in six live in social housing - exactly the same proportion as those who were born in Britain. | But after five years, when many immigrants are able to get residency and become entitled to government help, one in six live in social housing - exactly the same proportion as those who were born in Britain. |
| 'Perceptions are powerful' | |
| Mr Phillips said the government and social housing providers needed to work together to address the issues that resulted in perceptions about immigrants benefitting unfairly. | Mr Phillips said the government and social housing providers needed to work together to address the issues that resulted in perceptions about immigrants benefitting unfairly. |
| He added: "We have to recognise that people's perceptions are powerful, so it's vital that social housing providers and policy makers work to foster understanding about what is really happening on the ground. | He added: "We have to recognise that people's perceptions are powerful, so it's vital that social housing providers and policy makers work to foster understanding about what is really happening on the ground. |
| Views on council housing: "Local people get nothing" | |
| "Much of the public concern about the impact of migration on social housing has, at its heart, the failure of social housing supply to meet the demands of the population. | "Much of the public concern about the impact of migration on social housing has, at its heart, the failure of social housing supply to meet the demands of the population. |
| "The poorer the area, the longer the waiting lists, therefore the greater the tension." | "The poorer the area, the longer the waiting lists, therefore the greater the tension." |
| On 29 June, the prime minister told MPs he wanted to allow councils in England to give additional preference to locals. | On 29 June, the prime minister told MPs he wanted to allow councils in England to give additional preference to locals. |
| That was seen as a broadside to the British National Party, which has claimed immigrants are able to get more help with housing. | That was seen as a broadside to the British National Party, which has claimed immigrants are able to get more help with housing. |
| But the Conservatives have said the measure would be illegal under existing law and the forthcoming Equality Bill. | But the Conservatives have said the measure would be illegal under existing law and the forthcoming Equality Bill. |