Asked by: Baroness McGregor-Smith (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
Her Majesty's Government how many key workers need accommodation in London; and what is the average gap between their earnings and the cost of owning their own homes.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Information on the number of key workers that need accommodation in London is not centrally collected.
The Office for National Statistics publish data on housing affordability in England and Wales. These show that the ratio of median house price to median gross annual (where available) workplace-based earnings in 2016 was 7.72 in England, and 11.98 in London. The ratio of lower quartile house price to lower quartile gross annual (where available) workplace-based earnings in 2016 was 7.16 in England, and 12.76 in London.
Asked by: Baroness McGregor-Smith (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
Her Majesty's Government when the initial findings into the causes of the Grenfell Tower fire will be released.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Prime Minister has announced that a full independent public inquiry will consider the causes of the Grenfell Tower fire. The inquiry will be chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick and conducted under the Inquiries Act 2005 including the power to compel the production of documents, and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. We expect the inquiry to produce an interim report as early as possible. The Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation into the fire on 15 June, which is ongoing.
Asked by: Baroness McGregor-Smith (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure key workers are able to afford to buy their own homes.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
This Government wants to support everybody, including key workers, by making homes more affordable with steps outlined in the Housing White Paper to increase supply. Currently the Government funds a range of home ownership schemes including Help to Buy Equity Loans and Shared Ownership to support all who might need it, including key workers, to buy a home where they are unable to afford market prices locally.