Brick by Brick
Peers including the Chairs of a housing commission and a housing charity will debate the Government's plans for housing as set out in 'Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England' on Thursday 19 January.
Lord Stoneham (Liberal Democrat), who tabled and will open the debate, said:
“Housing is central to our economic recovery. We need to build more housing to meet current social needs and if we do it will create more UK jobs. We welcome the Government's strategy for housing, but having set out the foundations, it is the actual construction of more houses which we have to concentrate on now, and how we get the housing sector moving again.
“I want housing policy and delivery to raise its profile as it did under the leadership of Harold Macmillan in the 1950's so we deliver a near doubling of current annual housing output by the end of this Parliament. While we accept the Government's extra resources are strictly limited it needs to galvanise all the levers across the state, private and voluntary housing sectors to achieve this.”
Other Members scheduled to speak include:
- Lord Beecham (Labour), Opposition spokesperson for Communities and Local Government;
- Lord Best (Crossbench), Chair of the Communities and Local Government/Local Government Association Housing Commission;
- Lord Whitty (Labour), Chair of Housing Voice; and
- Baroness Maddock (Liberal Democrat), former Party Spokesperson for Housing.
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay (Liberal Democrat), Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat) and Lord Shipley (Liberal Democrat) are also expected to take part in the debate.
Baroness Hanham (Conservative) will respond on behalf of the government.
The debate is open to media and the public. Please allow time for security screening.
The debate will also be broadcast live on Parliament TV.