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1240/5(6203)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOUSING BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 5th APRIL 2011
Question
Does the Minister accept Key Finding 13 and Recommendation 11 of SR.3/2011 Review of Benefit Levels' that the funding for the provision of social rented accommodation must be separated from the provision of Income Support benefits and, if so, when will he bring a proposal to deal with this to the Assembly?
Does he further accept that the quantity of States social rented accommodation is insufficient to meet the Island's needs, and, if so, what measures, if any, does he intend to pursue to resolve this problem and in what timescale?
Answer
I will be making a formal comment on SR.3/2011 in due course. A review of the relationship between the Housing Component of Income Support and social housing rents is currently underway. The findings will form part of the White Paper which will be lodged this year and is part of the wider Housing Transformation Project. I have formed a Political Steering Group to assist me with this work. The Minister for Social Security, Deputy Gorst , is a member of that Group.
I agree that we need more social and affordable housing. I am also of the view that we need to make better use of the social housing that we presently have. The Affordable Housing Gateway being developed as an element of the Regulatory work stream of the Housing Transformation Programme will address how we use the stock to benefit those in the greatest housing need, details about how it will operate and the benefits it will deliver will be set out in the aforementioned White Paper.