Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the banks buy-to-let mortgage terms and conditions on the ability of private landlords to rent to those in receipt of housing benefit.

The Government is committed to increasing competition in banking. Although it is a commercial decision for banks to set their own lending criteria when lending to private landlords, to rent to those in receipt of housing benefit, the UK has a competitive mortgage market capable of serving a range of different business models.