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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
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| Housing dominates Brown's agenda | Housing dominates Brown's agenda |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will put housing, health and education at the heart of his parliamentary programme for the next year. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will put housing, health and education at the heart of his parliamentary programme for the next year. |
| Mr Brown broke with tradition by announcing 23 bills and draft bills to MPs months ahead of the Queen's Speech. | Mr Brown broke with tradition by announcing 23 bills and draft bills to MPs months ahead of the Queen's Speech. |
| He announced plans for more "affordable housing", raising the school leaving age and changes to work pensions. | He announced plans for more "affordable housing", raising the school leaving age and changes to work pensions. |
| But Conservative leader David Cameron dismissed the statement, saying: "We've heard it all before." | But Conservative leader David Cameron dismissed the statement, saying: "We've heard it all before." |
| Housing targets | Housing targets |
| The Queen's Speech is normally when prime ministers outline their programme, but Mr Brown said the statement would offer more time for consultation. | The Queen's Speech is normally when prime ministers outline their programme, but Mr Brown said the statement would offer more time for consultation. |
| GOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICIES Housing market renewal scheme to restore sustainable communities to parts of the North and Midlands Home Information Packs being introducedAll social housing must meet the 'decent homes standard'100,000 homes in "carbon neutral" communities planned for old industrial sitesNew HomeBuy scheme enables social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers to buy share of a home Bills at-a-glance In full: Brown's statement Guide: Housing in the UK | GOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICIES Housing market renewal scheme to restore sustainable communities to parts of the North and Midlands Home Information Packs being introducedAll social housing must meet the 'decent homes standard'100,000 homes in "carbon neutral" communities planned for old industrial sitesNew HomeBuy scheme enables social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers to buy share of a home Bills at-a-glance In full: Brown's statement Guide: Housing in the UK |
| He told MPs: "For over one-and-a-half centuries the annual Gracious Address has been drafted inside government, agreed by the Cabinet but far from the public arena. | He told MPs: "For over one-and-a-half centuries the annual Gracious Address has been drafted inside government, agreed by the Cabinet but far from the public arena. |
| "But I believe it is now right in the interests of good and open government and public debate that each year the prime minister make a summer statement to this House so that initial thinking, previously private, can now be the subject of widespread and informed public debate." | "But I believe it is now right in the interests of good and open government and public debate that each year the prime minister make a summer statement to this House so that initial thinking, previously private, can now be the subject of widespread and informed public debate." |
| Outlining housing and planning bills, he said: "Putting affordable housing within the reach not just of the few but the many is vital both to meeting individual aspirations and a better future for our country." | Outlining housing and planning bills, he said: "Putting affordable housing within the reach not just of the few but the many is vital both to meeting individual aspirations and a better future for our country." |
| Mortgages | Mortgages |
| Up to 100,000 homes could be built on around 550 surplus sites owned by arms of central government such as the Ministry of Defence and the NHS, Mr Brown said. | Up to 100,000 homes could be built on around 550 surplus sites owned by arms of central government such as the Ministry of Defence and the NHS, Mr Brown said. |
| In total, three million new homes would be built by 2020 - up 250,000 from the previous plan, he said. | In total, three million new homes would be built by 2020 - up 250,000 from the previous plan, he said. |
| The annual target would be raised from 200,000 to 240,000 new homes in England from 2016. | The annual target would be raised from 200,000 to 240,000 new homes in England from 2016. |
| There would also be a regime on "covered bonds" to help mortgage lenders finance 20 to 25-year fixed-rate mortgages. | There would also be a regime on "covered bonds" to help mortgage lenders finance 20 to 25-year fixed-rate mortgages. |
| On Tuesday, Communities Minister Hazel Blears said house building took "priority" over environmental concerns and said she could not given "categoric assurances" about redrawing the green belt. | On Tuesday, Communities Minister Hazel Blears said house building took "priority" over environmental concerns and said she could not given "categoric assurances" about redrawing the green belt. |
| The Conservatives said this had "raised the prospect of the government systematically concreting over" it. | The Conservatives said this had "raised the prospect of the government systematically concreting over" it. |
| But Mr Brown told MPs disused "brownfield" sites would be used for the expanded building programme. | But Mr Brown told MPs disused "brownfield" sites would be used for the expanded building programme. |
| He said an Education and Skills Bill would mean all young people stay in education or training until the age of 18. | He said an Education and Skills Bill would mean all young people stay in education or training until the age of 18. |
| 'Re-release' | 'Re-release' |
| A Pensions Bill would ensure all working people had the right to a workplace pension, and employers would have a duty to contribute to it. | A Pensions Bill would ensure all working people had the right to a workplace pension, and employers would have a duty to contribute to it. |
| He also proposed a Health and Social Care Bill and a Children in Care Bill. | He also proposed a Health and Social Care Bill and a Children in Care Bill. |
| Some close to Brown think that the Tory leader's made a strategic mistake BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Send us your comments | Some close to Brown think that the Tory leader's made a strategic mistake BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Send us your comments |
| Mr Cameron said: "I know this is meant to be some great constitutional innovation, but I have to say most of what the prime minister announced sounds rather like the Queen's Speech last year, the year before and the year before that." | Mr Cameron said: "I know this is meant to be some great constitutional innovation, but I have to say most of what the prime minister announced sounds rather like the Queen's Speech last year, the year before and the year before that." |
| He accused Mr Brown of repeating old announcements, adding: "For 10 years, he has plotted and schemed for the top job, but all we have got is a sort of re-release of the 1997 manifesto. | He accused Mr Brown of repeating old announcements, adding: "For 10 years, he has plotted and schemed for the top job, but all we have got is a sort of re-release of the 1997 manifesto. |
| "The country has moved on, but he simply hasn't." | "The country has moved on, but he simply hasn't." |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said MPs "should be concerned about the quality of legislation as much as about the quantity". | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said MPs "should be concerned about the quality of legislation as much as about the quantity". |