The Rt Hon Nick Raynsford, MP, is Minister of State (Local Government & Regions). In September 1995 when he was Labour's Shadow Housing Minister, he gave this interview to Rowland Janes (this first appeared in the Chew Valley Gazette, October 1995).

the politician - Nick Raynsford

What would Labour's housing priorities be, if you win the next election?

Our first priority has to be to make a considerable increase in the housing programme, and in particular, housing for people in need who require affordable rented housing and can't get it. There are many rural areas, particularly like the ones I've been visiting today, where it is virtually impossible for sons and daughters of existing residents, and others on low income to find housing, and we've got to be able to ensure there's an adequate supply of affordable rented housing.

Secondly we have to make sure that the current crisis in the home ownership market is resolved. There are large numbers of people who are extremely nervous at the prospect of losing their homes through the prospect of mortgage debt or repossession, or who are trapped in negative equity. Restoring confidence in the private market would be a very high priority for a Labour government.

Thirdly we've got to make sure that the homes that are provided are provided at rents that are affordable to people in need, because recently there has been a very steep increase in rent levels in many areas, and an increasing number of tenants who find themselves trapped in housing benefit dependency, which is demoralising for them and very expensive for the country in terms of the cost of benefit.

Fourth on my list of priorities, not necessarily in any sequence, these are all high priorities, we have to tackle the continuing scandal of homelessness. There is virtually no part of the country where there is not a problem and urgent action is necessary both to prevent people from losing their homes and also to provide accommodation to those who have not got a home, and one of the saddest things that I have to do at the moment is to run the campaign which we are running against the present government which is seeking to weaken the existing legislation which gives some protection to homeless people - not all. The very prospect of that being amended and weakened by the government at a time when there is such enormous need is, I believe, a scandal of the highest order, and we are going to do everything possible to stop them doing it.

What would be the main steps to achieve those objectives?

In terms of increasing the output of new homes, we are going to once again let councils build housing, we are going to lift the embargo that the present government has put on the ability of councils to build new homes. We will allow councils the use of the capital receipts which they have obtained through selling council houses over quite a long period of time and which they are currently prevented from using. We will allow a phased release of those receipts to ensure an increased house-building programme, and also to provide the means for investment in the renovation of some of the older parts of the council housing stock which need renovation and improvement.

How about the status of the houses that are built - do you see them as owned by councils or housing associations?

We want to see as wide a variety and choice as possible. We think that's in the interest of the public, and also a way of ensuring the largest possible programme without creating a single monopoly, landlord in any one area. So we are going to continue with the housing association programme. Councils, as I've said, will once again be free to build themselves, and we also explore new partnership arrangements to make h possible to attract more private investment as well as matching that with public funds to provide houses that otherwise wouldn't be built. So there will be a very broad spectrum of housing.

It has been said that the Housing Corporation is distant and undemocratic, particularly bearing in mind its huge budget. Would you change it? [The Housing Corporation is a Quango which gave housing associations £2.4 billion of government money in 1992-93]

Our proposal is to democratise the Housing Corporation by setting up regional committees which would be representative of local interests, including local authorities, local tenants, and others with a concern and interest in local housing in each region. The Housing Corporation would be required to report to those regional committees on all matters relating to the allocation of funds for housing association programmes in each region. You would have a proper system of accountability in place of the present system which rightly has been criticised as somewhat remote. In June 1995 the Government brought out a white paper on housing titled "Our Future Homes".

Do you have any particular response to that, or are you more interested in developing your own strategies?

We are obviously working on our own programme because we hope to be in government within eighteen months time. But, in the meantime we have to cope with the present government, and its white paper, which is bitterly disappointing. It offers no real sense of purpose, no vision, doesn't even recognise the scale of the problems - the very words negative equity, mortgage arrears, repossession, have been more or less entirely expunged from the document. One assumes that ministers hope that by not mentioning the problems they will just go away, but it's a completely inadequate response to the housing problems the country is facing at them moment.

MIRAS, giving tax relief on mortgage payments, has occasionally been challenged by the left. Would you cut or end it?

No, we think that it is quite wrong to cut MIRAS at a time when the market is depressed and large numbers of people are in considerable difficulty and worried about whether they can cope with their mortgage repayments. It would simply undermine confidence even further.

Some people criticise Labour for doing very little to oppose the sale of council houses. Do you have any view of that?

Yes, we want to see a framework where there is a new council house building people programme, so there is replacement in areas where council housing has been lost. We will not take away the right to buy, we think it is right that there should be opportunities for people to buy homes, but we believe it's essential that the proceeds of those homes are ploughed back into the provision of new housing. We we will also be putting pressure on those authorities where there are too many properties in urgent need of modernisation. I've seen examples today in the course of my visit here, in particular one council property which has been very poorly maintained by the local council where there is clearly a need for investment in new windows, where there is a need for central heating and where maintenance expenditure would create a really good quality home. Frankly the neglect of properties like that is a very real cause for concern, and something which, in government we will address.

Any other specifically local observations about housing?

Three main points: Firstly, a concern expressed by people that in the absence of adequate housing their communities suffer, because their sons and daughters simply have to leave and go to the cities. Therefore its essential that there is a range of housing to meet the full needs. Secondly the fact that homelessness is not unknown in rural areas. It may not be as visible as it is in some of the cities, but it is nevertheless a real problem because of shortage and because of the very high cost of housing in many rural areas. Thirdly there is the simple truth that in many rural reas councils have received very substantial receipts from the sale of council houses, and the proposed release of those receipts will allow considerable investment and improvement in housing conditions.

The promoter
The diamond wedding
The sculptress
The keeper
The poacher