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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Housing plan take-up 'laughable' | Housing plan take-up 'laughable' |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Just 88 homes have been bought using a multi-million pound government scheme aimed at helping people onto the property ladder, say the Conservatives. | Just 88 homes have been bought using a multi-million pound government scheme aimed at helping people onto the property ladder, say the Conservatives. |
| The record on the Social Homebuy scheme is "laughable" and the government is well short of its target, they say. | |
| The scheme allows housing association and council tenants to buy a discounted stake in their homes. | The scheme allows housing association and council tenants to buy a discounted stake in their homes. |
| The government dismissed the criticism as "utter nonsense" and said it was a limited pilot project, and one of many. | The government dismissed the criticism as "utter nonsense" and said it was a limited pilot project, and one of many. |
| In a Parliamentary answer, housing minister Yvette Cooper said 85 housing association and three council tenants had so far bought homes through the Social Homebuy scheme, which was announced in 2005. | In a Parliamentary answer, housing minister Yvette Cooper said 85 housing association and three council tenants had so far bought homes through the Social Homebuy scheme, which was announced in 2005. |
| Low-cost homes | Low-cost homes |
| It is one of three "homebuy" schemes which ministers hope will help 120,000 households into low-cost home ownership by 2010. | It is one of three "homebuy" schemes which ministers hope will help 120,000 households into low-cost home ownership by 2010. |
| The Conservatives say it is particularly important as more and more council properties are being transferred to housing associations where tenants do not enjoy the same "Right to Buy" privileges. | The Conservatives say it is particularly important as more and more council properties are being transferred to housing associations where tenants do not enjoy the same "Right to Buy" privileges. |
| While we are pledging at least £8bn for over 180,000 new affordable homes, all the Tories want to do is spread misinformation about a limited pilot scheme Iain WrightJunior Housing Minister | While we are pledging at least £8bn for over 180,000 new affordable homes, all the Tories want to do is spread misinformation about a limited pilot scheme Iain WrightJunior Housing Minister |
| Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps said the government should explain why only 77 of 1,400 housing associations had taken it up. | Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps said the government should explain why only 77 of 1,400 housing associations had taken it up. |
| He said selling only 88 homes in 18 months was "laughable" and described it as a "pretty pathetic pilot" if only 77 housing associations had taken it up. | He said selling only 88 homes in 18 months was "laughable" and described it as a "pretty pathetic pilot" if only 77 housing associations had taken it up. |
| "They should either dump it or do something better," he said. | "They should either dump it or do something better," he said. |
| "Something isn't working here. Even if this is supposed to be a pilot or a trial, you would expect to see better results than 88 homes in a year and a half." | "Something isn't working here. Even if this is supposed to be a pilot or a trial, you would expect to see better results than 88 homes in a year and a half." |
| 'Individual aspirations' | 'Individual aspirations' |
| He said the government had "failed to help people buy their own homes" and added: "Either they are serious about it, or they are not". | He said the government had "failed to help people buy their own homes" and added: "Either they are serious about it, or they are not". |
| In answers to Parliamentary questions, Ms Cooper said most of the 88 sales to date had come from the "first phase" of participating landlords - most of whom joined in late 2006. | In answers to Parliamentary questions, Ms Cooper said most of the 88 sales to date had come from the "first phase" of participating landlords - most of whom joined in late 2006. |
| More had joined the scheme in April, but sales could take months to reach completion, she added. | More had joined the scheme in April, but sales could take months to reach completion, she added. |
| But the government says Social Homebuy is just one of several schemes which helped 35,000 into home ownership over the past two years. | But the government says Social Homebuy is just one of several schemes which helped 35,000 into home ownership over the past two years. |
| They said £900,000 had been spent on the scheme so far and accused Mr Shapps of trying to block affordable homes in his own constituency. | They said £900,000 had been spent on the scheme so far and accused Mr Shapps of trying to block affordable homes in his own constituency. |
| Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright said: "This is utter nonsense. While we are pledging at least £8bn for over 180,000 new affordable homes, all the Tories want to do is spread misinformation about a limited pilot scheme. | Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright said: "This is utter nonsense. While we are pledging at least £8bn for over 180,000 new affordable homes, all the Tories want to do is spread misinformation about a limited pilot scheme. |
| "So far we have helped 80,000 households since 1997 into home ownership, and we will help thousands more. | "So far we have helped 80,000 households since 1997 into home ownership, and we will help thousands more. |
| "If the Tories want to get serious about supporting home ownership, they need to stop trying to block more affordable homes." | "If the Tories want to get serious about supporting home ownership, they need to stop trying to block more affordable homes." |