New housing minister makes first speech

Permalink: New housing minister makes first speech
by Kay Murchie

Caroline Flint has made her first speech as the new housing minister and has warned those in social housing to seek employment or risk losing their home.

Caroline Flint took over from Yvette Cooper as the Government’s new Housing Minister at the end of last month.

Ms Flint suggested ‘commitment contracts’ could be introduced, linking a resident’s efforts to find work to the provision of accommodation.

It is believed the scheme would initially only apply to new residents but at a later date, could be extended to incorporate existing social housing tenants.

In her speech, Ms Flint said unemployment is a major contributor to inter-generational poverty with some children growing up without ever seeing an adult get up and go to work in the morning.

The plans are part of a broader overhaul of social housing envisaged by the new housing minister.

The scheme was criticised by conservative shadow housing minister, Grant Shapps, who said ministers and local councils have a statutory duty to house homeless families with children and so they can’t evict them without then providing alternative accommodation.