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No 10 denies threat to green belt Housing to dominate Brown agenda
(about 7 hours later)
Gordon Brown's official spokesman has said no green belt will be lost under plans for thousands of new homes. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to make housing, education and health his priorities when he outlines his agenda to MPs later.
The PM sets out his draft Parliamentary programme for next year on Wednesday - with housing expected to dominate. Mr Brown will break with tradition by setting out his draft Parliamentary programme before the Queen's Speech.
His spokesman was forced to deny green belt land was threatened after minister Hazel Blears said housebuilding took "priority" over environmental concerns. On Tuesday his spokesman denied claims his plans for building thousands of new homes would destroy the green belt.
The Tories suggested Ms Blears had given "the green light to Green Belt destruction on a massive scale". The consultation document Mr Brown will put before MPs will include plans for wide ranging constitutional reform.
The issue seems certain to be raised on Wednesday afternoon when the prime minister sets out his priorities and a list of bills and draft bills he is thinking of introducing in the next Parliament. On Wednesday afternoon Mr Brown will set out his priorities for the next year and a list of bills and draft bills he is thinking of introducing in the next Parliament.
The Queen's Speech in November is normally when PMs outline their legislative programme. Wednesday's statement is a break with tradition, although it is not clear how much detail will be given.
Green beltGreen belt
Housing and the wider content of Mr Brown's statement were discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday. The Queen's Speech in November is normally when prime ministers outline their legislative programme. Wednesday's statement is a break with tradition, although it is not clear how much detail will be given.
Mr Brown's official spokesman said the "over-arching theme" outlined was meeting people's aspirations in areas like housing, education and the NHS. Housing is expected to dominate the plans, but his spokesman denied claims that much of the green belt would be lost, after minister Hazel Blears said house building took "priority" over environmental concerns.
The Tories suggested Ms Blears had given "the green light to green belt destruction on a massive scale".
I think we are going to have a tussle Hazel BlearsI think we are going to have a tussle Hazel Blears
Housing was a key theme of the Labour deputy leadership contest, and Mr Brown is expected to outline plans to build more homes, to build more council or housing association homes for rent and also to support the growth of 25 year mortgages and shared ownership schemes. Mr Brown is expected to outline plans to build more homes, to build more council or housing association homes for rent and also to support the growth of 25-year mortgages and shared ownership schemes.
But the impact on green belt land was raised at a hearing of the communities and local government select committee when Communities Secretary Ms Blears was asked about the need for more affordable housing. Affordable homes
But the impact on green belt land was raised at a select committee hearing when Communities Secretary Ms Blears was asked about the need for more affordable housing.
She told MPs more land would have to be freed up for development and the planning system would have to be used to better effect.She told MPs more land would have to be freed up for development and the planning system would have to be used to better effect.
"I think we are going to have a tussle, if you like, because some people are concerned about environmental issues," she told the committee."I think we are going to have a tussle, if you like, because some people are concerned about environmental issues," she told the committee.
I fear that Gordon Brown is giving the green light to green belt destruction on a massive scale Jacqui LaitShadow planning minister
"But I think the priority has to be to build these homes.""But I think the priority has to be to build these homes."
Eco towns She said she could not give "categoric assurances" about redrawing the green belt.
She said she could not give "categoric assurances" about redrawing the green belt, adding: "I'm very well aware of the different stresses and strains there will be in the system and part of our job is how do we get the balance right?"
Mr Brown has already said he wanted to create 100,000 homes in "carbon neutral" communities on old industrial sites.
Ms Blears said there would be a new push across government to free up land for development on public sector sites and look for more "growth points" for development in the Midlands and the North.
I fear that Gordon Brown is giving the green light to Green Belt destruction on a massive scale Jacqui LaitShadow planning minister
She also said "social housing" should be created through partnerships between councils and the private sector, but said the government was not proposing a "massive council house-building programme".
The Conservatives said Ms Blears' appearance before the committee had "raised the prospect of the government systematically concreting over the green belt".The Conservatives said Ms Blears' appearance before the committee had "raised the prospect of the government systematically concreting over the green belt".
Shadow planning minister Jacqui Lait added: "Environmental protection and tackling climate change need to be at the heart of government policy. Yet I fear that Gordon Brown is giving the green light to Green Belt destruction on a massive scale. Shadow planning minister Jacqui Lait added: "We need to build more homes. But the government should work with local communities - and must respect the wishes of local people who want to protect their green belt for current and future generations."
"We need to build more homes. But the government should work with local communities - and must respect the wishes of local people who want to protect their green belt for current and future generations." But Mr Brown's official spokesman said later the government could "give assurances" that all land currently classed as green belt would remain so under new plans to increase housing.
Asked later about Ms Blears comments, Mr Brown's official spokesman said the government could "give assurances" that all land currently classed as green belt would remain so under new plans to increase housing.
He said the prime minister "is not proposing any changes to the robust terms" of the current green belt land provision.He said the prime minister "is not proposing any changes to the robust terms" of the current green belt land provision.
Housing and the wider content of Mr Brown's statement were discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday.
Mr Brown's official spokesman said the "over-arching theme" was meeting people's aspirations in areas like housing, education and the NHS.
Other measures which might be put forward on Wednesday include a Schools Bill to raise the school leaving age to 18, a Climate Change Bill and legislative proposals from the recent Energy and Planning White Papers.