Minister's figures hide how far government is from affordable housing target

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Jul 2009

Commenting on the claim by the Deputy Housing Minister, Jocelyn Davies, that over 3,500 new affordable homes have been built since the One Wales agreement, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Housing, Peter Black AM, said:

"The One Wales agreement is clear that the government would not just build 6,500 homes, but would increase the supply of affordable homes by this amount. Only counting what has been built but ignoring what has been lost isn't a measure of her success in reaching her targets.

"A total of 976 local authority owned properties and 104 social landlord owned properties have been sold between 2007/08 and 2008/09. In 2007/08 67 social housing units were demolished. Figures are not yet available for 2008/09.

"This means that 1,147 affordable housing units have to be deducted from the Ministers 3,252 figure, so that the supply of affordable housing has only increased by 2,105 units.

"The target is a distraction from measures that could be taken to help create affordable homes. Why is the Minister ignoring the 26,000 private sector empty homes in Wales? These empty homes are a neglected resource that could also be housing homeless families."

"I am intrigued that the Minister now has these figures to hand. When I asked a written question two weeks ago as to how many affordable housing units have been built she informed me that figures would not be available until autumn. The government is refusing to answer the questions of the opposition and going to the press instead!"

Ends

Notes: Question asked on 17th June 2009

Peter Black (South Wales West): Will the Minister provide figures to update us on how much progress has been achieved in reaching the Welsh Assembly Government target of 6,500 new affordable housing units by 2011. (WAQ54325)

Jocelyn Davies: The Wales Economic Research Unit (WERU) report published on 21 November 2008 showed that in 2007/08 1533 affordable homes were built in Wales. We have now introduced a new comprehensive method for counting affordable homes which are delivered from a number of different sources. The numbers of affordable homes built in 2008/09 will be known in the late autumn.