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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Housing plans set to be unveiled | Housing plans set to be unveiled |
| (about 4 hours 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. | 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." | |
| 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. |
| Our housing estates need a mix of backgrounds and incomes if we're to build and preserve genuine communities. Dan RogersonLiberal Democrat housing spokesman | |
| 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." |
| However, the report is said to include proposals for means testing tenants. If their incomes rise they could lose their cheap rents. | |
| Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Dan Rogerson said means testing would "either deter people from working or push them off estates where they are happy and established". | |
| "Our housing estates need a mix of backgrounds and incomes if we're to build and preserve genuine communities." |