3. Mr Blair asked the Minister for Communities when he will publish the new housing supply strategy. (AQO 768/22-27)

I am in the process of finalising the housing supply strategy. It remains my intention to bring the strategy to the Executive for their consideration shortly. Publication will be dependent on Executive approval.

I thank the Minister for his answer. At this stage, can he give any detail on discussions that he has had with the Department for Infrastructure about the reform of the planning system or with the Department of Finance about budgets to ensure that the housing supply strategy can be properly implemented?

I have had conversations with the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Infrastructure. The Member's question raises important issues. First, planning is one of many issues that affect our ability to build homes. We need to look at a number of aspects of how we operate our planning system, especially statutory consultees' response times — that is one particular issue that I raised with the Infrastructure Minister — and at the need to make sure that we can encourage responses as quickly as possible. It may be necessary to go beyond encouragement at times.

In the many meetings that I have had with the Minister of Finance, I have emphasised to her the need for more investment in our social housing budget. In order for people to have a safe, secure and warm home, it is incredibly important that we have the necessary funds to continue the social housing development programme at the required pace. I hope that those conversations will produce fruit.

What does the Minister believe to be the most important actions, especially on water and sewage infrastructure, that can be taken to improve housing supply across the regions of Northern Ireland?

We can take many actions to ensure that we have a greater supply of homes in Northern Ireland. In the private sector, we absolutely need to look at availability of land, at planning and at water infrastructure. All are important. One of the single most important things that we can do, however, is to see the change that is required to the Housing Executive's borrowing powers come about. "Game changer" is used all too often in this place, often inappropriately, but the revitalisation of the Housing Executive programme would truly be a game changer for housing supply in Northern Ireland, significantly changing our ability to build the houses that we so desperately require in Northern Ireland and bringing us into line with housing associations in, for example, England and Wales. I have had conversations about that with the Finance Minister and other Executive colleagues, and I believe that the necessary support exists for us to get those changes made and to get agreement from the Treasury. That would truly be a game changer.

Minister, what hope can you give to the 47,000 — 47,000 — people who are on the housing waiting list, given that you have confirmed that only 600 social houses will be built this year?

I hope that the Member was listening to my previous answer. We are in a very constrained budgetary position. Even if my budget were to be doubled, it would not put us at the number of social homes that we need to build. We therefore need to look at alternatives. That is why I introduced the intermediate rent model. It can make a difference. It is why I am pushing for the revitalisation of the Housing Executive programme. Those are two examples of things that can make a difference, and I am determined to pursue them.