FUNDING DECENT COUNCIL HOUSING

That this House welcomes the decision of Labour's Party conference again, to call on Government to provide the fourth option of direct investment to council housing as a matter or urgency; notes the rising number of tenants' ballots against stock transfer and the growing demands from tenants, councillors and trade unions for a change in Government policy, the strong lobbying from local authorities anxious to retain their homes, as well as from many with arm's length management organisations, or yet to decide; notes the criticism of existing policy from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee, the Audit Commission, the House of Commons Council Housing group and others; therefore suggests that direct investment in decent, affordable, secure and accountable council housing is now essential to provide housing needs for that rising proportion of people who are unable to get onto the ownership ladder because of escalating prices; and further suggests that an investment allowance funded through ring fencing all rents and capital receipts flowing to councils to supplement this by a level playing field on debt write-off and gap funding will enable local authorities to improve all council homes and start the necessary programme of building new council houses to meet housing need without major Government spending, thus ensuring respect for tenants' choice, stimulating the economy, enabling democratically elected local authorities to get on with their job and allowing the Government to meet its 2005 election manifesto commitment to ensure that all social tenants benefit from a decent warm home with modern facilities by 2010.