Cabinet changes provide an additional voice for housing issues The Home Builders Federation (HBF) congratulates Rt. Hon David Miliband MP on his appointment as the first ever Cabinet Minister for Communities and Local Government.
The HBF is delighted with the Prime Ministers decision to create the portfolio, which will give housing issues an additional voice at the Cabinet table.
This change to the mechanics of Government signals Labours commitment to its ambitious manifesto target of raising home ownership by a further one million by the end of the third term. However, this target can only be met if more people are given the opportunity to enter the private housing market.
The HBF urges the Government to implement the Barker Report and address its key finding that an additional 70,000120,000 new private homes are needed every year in the UK if the trend in real house prices is to be reduced and the affordability of housing improved.
Many recent announcements, such as the raising of the stamp duty threshold, may help affordability in the short-term but do so by subsidising demand, not addressing the long-term undersupply of housing in the UK.
The HBF calls upon Mr Miliband, and the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, to deliver on the promises Labour has made, and to prioritise policy measures that will encourage both housing supply and housing choice to be significantly increased.
Commenting on David Milibands appointment, Rob Ashmead, Chief Executive of the HBF, said:
We welcome David Milibands appointment as Cabinet Minister for Communities and Local Government, and believe that the creation of the portfolio underlines the national importance that must be placed on housing in Labours third term.
The Home Builders Federation urges David Miliband to modernise housing policy. Increasing supply and enabling the industry to meet peoples housing aspirations more effectively is the only way to meet the Labour Partys manifesto pledge to increase home ownership by one million.
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For more information please contact Katie Thompson at Portland on 020 7421 6120 or katie.thompson@portlandpr.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal trade federation for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBFs 300 member firms account for over 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies. www.hbf.co.uk