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/6288524.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Housing to dominate Brown agenda | Housing to dominate Brown agenda |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to put housing, health, and education at the heart of his parliamentary programme for the next year. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to put housing, health, and education at the heart of his parliamentary programme for the next year. |
| Mr Brown will break with tradition by setting out his plans to MPs months ahead of the Queen's Speech. | Mr Brown will break with tradition by setting out his plans to MPs months ahead of the Queen's Speech. |
| He told the BBC he wanted to make homes "more affordable" and to put an end to "armchair government", by consulting people on his legislative programme. | He told the BBC he wanted to make homes "more affordable" and to put an end to "armchair government", by consulting people on his legislative programme. |
| But the Tories said his house-building proposals would damage the green belt. | But the Tories said his house-building proposals would damage the green belt. |
| Mr Brown is to 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 at about 1230 BST. | Mr Brown is to 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 at about 1230 BST. |
| 'More power' | 'More power' |
| Measures which might be put forward 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. | Measures which might be put forward 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. |
| 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6290662.stm">Analysis: Brown's motives | |
| The Queen's Speech in November is normally when prime ministers outline their programme. The statement, a break with tradition, is also expected to include the constitutional reform plans he outlined last week. | The Queen's Speech in November is normally when prime ministers outline their programme. The statement, a break with tradition, is also expected to include the constitutional reform plans he outlined last week. |
| Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Parliament "should have far more power" and be able to discuss his plans in advance. | Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Parliament "should have far more power" and be able to discuss his plans in advance. |
| He also promised region-by-region public consultations, saying: "We are in a new world. People have a right to be consulted and involved. Therefore you have got to be outward-looking. | He also promised region-by-region public consultations, saying: "We are in a new world. People have a right to be consulted and involved. Therefore you have got to be outward-looking. |
| "That's different from what people call 'sofa government' or what people call 'armchair government'. This is going out listening to the people." | "That's different from what people call 'sofa government' or what people call 'armchair government'. This is going out listening to the people." |
| 'Flexible' | 'Flexible' |
| On housing, Mr Brown said he would look at ideas to make home ownership easier, such as 20-year fixed-rate mortgages and more shared-equity schemes. | On housing, Mr Brown said he would look at ideas to make home ownership easier, such as 20-year fixed-rate mortgages and more shared-equity schemes. |
| He added: "We've got to make houses more affordable." | He added: "We've got to make houses more affordable." |
| 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 | 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 |
| There was a need to "make the system of house-buying more flexible" for first-time buyers and people moving home. | There was a need to "make the system of house-buying more flexible" for first-time buyers and people moving home. |
| More properties had to be built, particularly on "brownfield land", Mr Brown said, adding: "This is a new and urgent challenge that we've got to meet by the public and private sectors working better together." | More properties had to be built, particularly on "brownfield land", Mr Brown said, adding: "This is a new and urgent challenge that we've got to meet by the public and private sectors working better together." |
| On Tuesday, Communities Minister Hazel Blears said house building took "priority" over environmental concerns. | On Tuesday, Communities Minister Hazel Blears said house building took "priority" over environmental concerns. |
| She told the local government select committee she could not give "categoric assurances" about redrawing the green belt. | She told the local government select committee she could not give "categoric assurances" about redrawing the green belt. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It all sounds marvellous but let's wait and see what happens when it is all put into practice Christine Cobbold Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY It all sounds marvellous but let's wait and see what happens when it is all put into practice Christine Cobbold Send us your comments |
| The Conservatives said this had "raised the prospect of the government systematically concreting over" protected land. | The Conservatives said this had "raised the prospect of the government systematically concreting over" protected land. |
| They also suggested she had given "the green light to green belt destruction on a massive scale". | They also suggested she had given "the green light to green belt destruction on a massive scale". |
| But Mr Brown's spokesman said the government could "give assurances" that all land currently classed as green belt would remain so under new plans to increase housing. | But Mr Brown's 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 was "not proposing any changes to the robust terms" of the current green belt land provision. | He said the prime minister was "not proposing any changes to the robust terms" of the current green belt land provision. |