Nick Harvey says: ‘The perception is that the Government is not moving quickly enough on the issue of affordable and social housing. I recently pressed Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for an explanation of when the report on future housing policy and access to social housing is due.

Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning responding on her behalf stated: ‘Professor John Hills’ report Ends and Means-the Future Role of Social Housing in England was published in February 2007. The report has provoked a wide ranging debate on the role of social housing in the 21st century. We are now carrying out a programme of work to address the issues raised.

‘As part of this programme, on 19 June we launched two key consultations Delivering Housing & Regeneration: Communities England and the future of social housing regulation, which outlines proposals to create a new housing and regeneration agency and responds to Professor Martin Cave’s review of social housing regulation Every Tenant Matters, also published on 19 June; and Tenant Empowerment, which outlines proposals to increase empowerment of social housing tenants.

Nick says: ‘All of this is not before time, let’s hope that the proposed housing and regeneration agency does not simply turn into another talking shop and that we see effective action. Similarly social housing regulation urgently needs overhauling, especially to help tenants combat troublesome neighbours.’