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Council Houses
3. Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): How many council houses have been built since May 1997. [152482]
The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. John Prescott): Since 1997, 105,228 new social homes have been built. Of these, 1,343 were built by local authorities.
Over the same period, we have brought 1 million social homes up to decent standards, and over the next three years we shall be investing £2.8 billion to further improve council homes—three times what it was in 1997.
Bob Russell : Mr. Speaker, you will be aware that my question was about how many council houses have been built. That is a lamentably low figure, even by the Deputy Prime Minister's standards. Is he aware that hundreds of thousands of children are living in overcrowded accommodation, and that even the Thatcher Government managed to build 360,000 council houses in their first six years? Why cannot new Labour try to match what the Thatcher Government did?
The Deputy Prime Minister: The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the priority that we set when we came in was to do something about the houses that had gone into massive disrepair through disinvestment to the tune of £19 billion. We have given priority to improving the housing conditions of people in local authority houses, and have improved almost a million. That is quite opposite to the right-to-buy policy that dominated in the previous Administration, and we have doubled the resources going into housing.
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): It is good that the Government have increased investment in housing, but it is still only up to the 1992 level in real terms. In my constituency, only those applicants for council housing or housing association housing who are homeless or are clearance cases are receiving offers. Even those living in extremely overcrowded conditions, or with urgent medical needs, cannot get an offer. Does my right hon. Friend share my concern that unless there is a substantial increase in the number of affordable homes for rent—and council housing is the most efficient way of providing this—many areas are approaching a housing crisis not seen since the post-war era?
The Deputy Prime Minister: I agree with a great deal of what my hon. Friend says. That is why we gave priority to improving housing, particularly in her area, by providing the resources to improve the housing stock. Much of that help was associated with very difficult housing conditions. That was our priority. But I agree that we need to put more money into housing. We have done that. It is double the level that it was in 1997, and it will increase even further in the next round of public expenditure.
Mr. John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings) (Con): Further to the hon. Lady's question, the Deputy Prime Minister will know that in 2002–03 the number of social houses built by registered social landlords and local authorities was 19,174, the lowest annual total for more than 10 years. The Government are building fewer houses in this sector than the previous Conservative Government did. Will the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that honestly and straightforwardly, and tell the House why?
The Deputy Prime Minister: The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we are doing that primarily because his Government refused to put the money into improving housing conditions. Over £7 billion from selling houses was being held in accounts that the previous Government would not allow local authorities to use to improve their housing stock. Our first priority was to make sure that the money secured from selling houses was used to improve the housing stocks, and that was a proper priority. It was our choice, and I am delighted to defend it.
Mr. Robert N. Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby) (Lab): Is it not about time we made our first social housing priority the building of council housing and repair of existing stock? Should we not also reverse the policy of transferring council houses from the ownership of democratically elected councils to that of unaccountable housing associations?
The Deputy Prime Minister: I recognise the difficulty caused by the £19 billion disinvestment that we inherited. We had to obtain extra resources as well as the public money that was being invested, so we offered the transfer facility. Some 790,000 homes have been transferred, producing £8 billion in additional private investment. I think that, in the circumstances, that was the right priority. As for democratic accountability, the residents had to vote for this, and they did, in large numbers.
Mobile Phone Masts
4. Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con): If he will make a statement on the siting of mobile phone network transmitters. [152483]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Yvette Cooper): Current planning guidance on telecommunications is set out in the revised planning policy guidance note 8. The policy takes account of the conclusions of the Stewart report, as well as the need to facilitate the growth of telecommunications systems while protecting the environment.
Mr. Rosindell: Is the Minister aware that her Department recently sanctioned the installation of a mobile telephone mast directly opposite Gidea Park college in my constituency, which is inhabited by a large number of young people? Does she not think that an inappropriate site for such a mast? Will she and the Department call the matter in to ensure that it does not arise again, and will they put the safety of those pupils first?
Yvette Cooper: Obviously I cannot comment on the details of the case, but the hon. Gentleman will know that the Stewart report considered issues relating to mobile phones and health in some depth. A recent update said:
- "Exposure levels from living near to mobile phone base stations are extremely low and the overall evidence indicates they are unlikely to pose a risk to health."
Phil Sawford (Kettering) (Lab): Is my hon. Friend aware that the current records for such sites are hopelessly inadequate and inaccurate? Map references suggest that sites in the south of England are in northern France, and that equipment on Blackpool tower is in the middle of the Irish sea. Will she make every effort to ensure that the records are updated, and that new technology is used to make them as accurate as possible?
Yvette Cooper: My hon. Friend is right. Of course the information needs to be as accurate as possible. An independent audit of the work done by operating companies has found that they have not been keeping adequate information; we have raised the issue with them, and they have said that they will improve it. Meanwhile, the Radiocommunications Agency is producing a full list of all sites in the country. I will raise the issues that my hon. Friend has mentioned with the agency.
Mr. Roger Gale (North Thanet) (Con): Since the installation of radiocommunications masts on the water tower at Herne bay, there has been a cluster of cancer cases. The findings of the Stewart report will be of small comfort to those living in the area, who are genuinely
concerned. Is it not time that we empowered the local authority to listen to local people and make decisions on the basis of local interests?
Yvette Cooper: Local voices do have to be heard as part of the planning process. The Stewart report, along with more recent work, has produced a serious analysis, and has said that further research is needed—for instance, a major epidemiological survey. I think it right for us to take account of the best scientific and health evidence and advice available, and act accordingly. That is what we have done by accepting the Stewart report's recommendations, and that is the approach that we must continue to take.
Allotments
5. Mr. Ben Chapman (Wirral, South) (Lab): If he will make a statement on allotment provision. [152484]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Phil Hope): The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister actively supports the development of green spaces, including allotments, parks, city farms and playgrounds. We have introduced tighter restrictions on the disposal of allotments and distributed guidance on allotment management.
Mr. Chapman : Is my hon. Friend aware that allotment usage has been in long-term decline and that sites continue to be under threat, sometimes from developers, but often from vandals? Yet they provide a healthy leisure activity and are an excellent source of food. Should not the Government do more for allotments and the many people who use them and make greater efforts to sustain and promote them?
Phil Hope: My hon. Friend is well known for championing the cause of allotments and he is right to do so. The decline in the number of allotments between 1978 and 1996—during the years of the Conservative Government—was appalling. It dropped from 479,000 to 296,000—a cut of 62 per cent. in the Tory years. I saw at first hand in Nottingham at the launch of our sustainable communities report the benefits that allotments can bring, which my hon. Friend described. I can tell him that the Government recognise that allotments are a key element of good liveability in our local communities and will continue to be promoted as part of our wider policies on support for green spaces.
Mr. Robert Key (Salisbury) (Con): I share the Minister's enthusiasm for allotments, which are very important to the life of Salisbury and south Wiltshire villages. Will he consider representations from Durrington parish council in my constituency, which wants more allotments in the village? The Ministry of Defence is so strapped for cash that it is selling off fields, including those wanted by the parish council for allotments, in favour of building on greenfield sites.
Phil Hope: I cannot speak about the specific example that the hon. Gentleman mentioned, but as a former allotment holder myself, I can tell him that I value and recognise the benefits that allotments can bring,
particularly for pensioners and the unemployed. More women are also taking up allotment holding nowadays—and a very good thing it is, too.
Mr. Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend recognise that, in former coalmining areas such as North Durham, many allotments go unused? Will he join me in supporting some communities, such as Sacriston parish council, that want to find alternative uses such as house building on those unused allotments? Will the Minister give some consideration to alternative uses? [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker: Order. There is far too much noise in the Chamber. The House must come to order.
Phil Hope: My hon. Friend makes a good point. It is the local authority's duty to provide allotments where there is a demand and it is supported by policy planning guidance note 17—a comprehensive statement on how local authorities should operate in this area when deciding whether to promote allotments or develop them for other uses. It is a matter for the local council rather than the central Government, but we have issued planning guidance to ensure that, when allotments are wanted, people can have them.
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