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1240/5(3876)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOUSING BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 13th MAY 2008
Question
Does the Minister accept the statement that "over the next five years there is a potential total demand for 305 older persons' housing units" on page 29 of the Housing Needs Survey 2007, along with potential supply of 125 units?
Does the Minister accept the findings expressed on pages 29 to 31 that this basic need for some 200 such units can be stretched by some second-order interpretation of hypothetical "inclination" rather than need?
Will the Minister explain to members why he has been insisting that he has a proven and urgent need for 400 such units? Does he still maintain his position, and if so, will he produce his evidence for members so that the assembly can properly assess this need?
Answer
Yes I do accept the statement which concludes that there is an overall indicated demand for some 305 older persons homes. The potential supply figure of 125 units, as is clarified later in the report is affected by two things; firstly the loss of 33 older persons units at Ann Court; and secondly the net loss over the next 10 years of 100 bed-sitter units as we progress with our refurbishment programme and they are either demolished or converted into more appropriate 1 bedroom life-long homes.
I do not accept that the findings on pages 29 to 31 of the report can be interpreted quite as loosely as the Deputy suggests. The findings on page 29 – 31 actually conclude that there are some 160 households who have expressed a latent but real need for older persons accommodation but did not indicate that they were planning to move on the basis that that sort of accommodation does not exist.