Minister warns housing 'junkies' to look to future

Speaking at the launch of major inquiry into the purpose of social housing, Hilary Armstrong said that too often the housing sector sees "itself in isolation from every other aspect of social policy".

She called for "much more challenging thinking" in housing and urged the sector to recognise "some of the very uncomfortable things out there at the moment".

Armstrong added: "If we only left it to housing junkies then all of those aspects that are important will not be part of the way forward."

Armstrong also attempted to bridge the gap that appears to be opening up in Labour's leadership over its stance towards the public sector.

She said: "This government does believe passionately in public services and housing is part of that public service, but we also know that it has to be modernised and made ready to face the challenges of the 21st century. And there is no greater challenge to this country than how it sees housing policy over the next 20 years."

She claimed the government was "putting its mind to this at the highest level" - the housing Green Paper was being drawn up by a team involving the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Social Security Secretary.

Armstrong revealed that government is planning to put forward a more flexible approach to tackle Britain's disparate housing conditions. "There are different demands and different needs in different parts of the country, we have to recognise that and have a policy that is sufficiently flexible to be able to respond."

When asked what she meant by a "housing junkie" Armstrong told Housing Today that "there are some extremely committed and exciting people in housing, but the debate can't be confined to just housing - that would mean that the hard thinking in social policy would be passed by."