This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6377053.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Housing plans set to be unveiled | Housing plans set to be unveiled |
(40 minutes later) | |
A report on the future of council housing is expected to recommend ways of creating more mixed communities to tackle inner-city deprivation. | A report on the future of council housing is expected to recommend ways of creating more mixed communities to tackle inner-city deprivation. |
The government-commissioned review, by John Hills of the London School of Economics, aims to help prevent people becoming trapped living on estates. | The government-commissioned review, by John Hills of the London School of Economics, aims to help prevent people becoming trapped living on estates. |
But supporters of council houses fear tenants will face an uncertain future. | But supporters of council houses fear tenants will face an uncertain future. |
The government insisted there were "no plans" to end the role of social housing as a "safety net". | The government insisted there were "no plans" to end the role of social housing as a "safety net". |
About five million UK households rent from local authorities or registered landlords, but the government says it wants to expand the opportunity of home ownership to more people. | |
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly told the BBC: "It's very very clear to me that we could do more for social tenants who are currently in their own homes." | Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly told the BBC: "It's very very clear to me that we could do more for social tenants who are currently in their own homes." |
Earlier this month, she proposed that social housing tenants could be helped to get on the property ladder by reducing the minimum stake they can buy from 25% to 10%. | Earlier this month, she proposed that social housing tenants could be helped to get on the property ladder by reducing the minimum stake they can buy from 25% to 10%. |
There was a need to "accelerate the pace of improvement", Ms Kelly added. | There was a need to "accelerate the pace of improvement", Ms Kelly added. |
But the Conservatives said the current system for selling council homes to tenants was "needlessly bureaucratic". | But the Conservatives said the current system for selling council homes to tenants was "needlessly bureaucratic". |
Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "Talk of time-limits and means-testing for social housing tenants would not be an issue if the government stuck to its guns and devolved greater powers over housing to local councils and local people." | Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "Talk of time-limits and means-testing for social housing tenants would not be an issue if the government stuck to its guns and devolved greater powers over housing to local councils and local people." |
A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "Social housing provides a vital safety net for some of the most vulnerable in society - there are no plans to change this." | A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "Social housing provides a vital safety net for some of the most vulnerable in society - there are no plans to change this." |