Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department considered providing low interest loans to councils in the context of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

My Department did explore providing low interest loans to councils but having carefully considered the fiscal implications we reluctantly arrived at the conclusion that the scheme would be for Private Registered Providers only.

As part of our commitment to reinvigorating council housebuilding, we have confirmed a number of other measures designed to support delivery of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme by councils. Full details can be found in my 7 November letter to local council leaders which can be found on gov.uk here.