Clause 11 - Use of capital receipts
Local Government Bill
4:15 pm
Mr Jon Cruddas (Dagenham, Labour)
To take that a bit further, the Government are presumably not ignorant of the pressures in the south-east, which relate primarily to key workers. We have seen press reports about their plans for regenerating the Thames gateway and their creative approach to housing in the area, which will involve strong proportionality in terms of social housing. That means that the issue is centre stage politically and economically. If the hon. Gentleman concedes that the proposals in the Bill will not preclude additionality from also being part of the fuller picture, is there not a case for saying that the issues are being wound up for what I acknowledge are politically expedient reasons? The proposals will allow a much more creative approach to confronting issues in the south-east, some of which are experienced by my community, the hon. Gentleman's and those of many of his colleagues.