To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2011, Official Report, column 991W, on social rented housing: armed forces,

(1) what steps his Department plans to take to measure the effect of its proposed changes to the social housing additional preference given to members of the armed forces;

(2) for what reasons his Department decided it was necessary to consult on a change to the law in order to require local housing authorities in England to provide for former service personnel with urgent housing needs to receive additional preference in their allocation scheme;

(3) whether he plans to collect information on (a) the number of armed forces personnel and veterans on the waiting lists and (b) the councils which give additional preference to armed forces personnel and veterans in the future.

The Government believe it is right that those who have put their life on the line for their country should receive the priority for social housing they need and deserve. We also believe that local authorities in England who are required to implement the regulations, as well as others who are affected by them, should have the opportunity to comment on these changes.

We are considering appropriate changes to the system used by councils and housing associations to record lettings (the CoRe lettings log) so we can monitor the number of social tenancies granted to service personnel. Local authorities are already obliged to make their allocation scheme available to the public.