Caroline Flint: In the Frame » Housing » 24dash.com

Caroline Flint’s first six months as Minister of State for Housing and Planning have not been easy. From the controversy she courted with her maiden speech over ‘employment contracts’ for social housing tenants, to the current slump in the UK housing market, barely has a day gone by when the tap-dancing, New Labour pin-up girl has not been in the media spotlight.

But as 24housing’s Jon Land found out, she is thoroughly enjoying her job, is under no illusions about the challenges she faces and is full of praise for people working in the social housing sector and the ‘vital public service’ they provide.

Have the recent pressures on the UK housing market forced the Government to reconsider its priorities for social housing providers?

We have to be flexible and responsive enough to adapt to the current economic climate but at the end of the day we need more social and affordable housing, and we are still committed to increasing the supply of new social homes to 45,000 a year by 2010/11. Recent measures I announced, such as new partnerships between public and private sector to help councils provide new homes and more funding to buy suitable unsold stock from house builders, I believe will help us to achieve this goal.

Will the Government be considering the National Housing Federation's idea to allow housing associations to buy homes from people facing repossession with a view to renting them back or re-selling them to their owners?

Yes. Many housing partners are developing models for mortgage rescue to help families with children, older people and other vulnerable groups stay in their homes and a small number of local authorities, including Herefordshire and Wakefield, are working with local housing associations to offer such schemes. I want to work with partners to consider the viability and practicality of such schemes, alongside the case for offering such support more widely.

With the current high levels of home repossessions and pressures over mortgage re-payments, is the Government still actively encouraging the public into home ownership?

The aspiration of many people is to own their own home and our efforts need to reflect that. Whilst repossessions are up it still remains around a third of that in 1991, but we do recognise the problems that some borrowers are facing. We recently announced a new £10 million package of measures to support home owners who may be facing difficulties with their mortgage and we have also announced new consumer information for families at risk from repossession, pulling together all the practical steps homeowners can take. Lenders tell me repossession is a last resort and we should hold them to that.

How does the Government plan to address the growing number of people on social housing waiting lists? (LGA figures suggest five million people could be on waiting lists by 2010).

Build more homes! I welcome the LGA's backing for Government investment to provide 70,000 affordable homes a year by 2011, including 45,000 social homes for rent and I hope this means they will be instrumental in persuading their member local authorities to support plans for increased housing supply to meet the needs of local families on housing waiting lists.

Is the Government still committed to meeting its home building and energy targets - or is it beginning to accept they are unrealistic given the pressures currently facing the UK construction industry and other housing providers?

Long term demands for housing remains high and we must remain as ambitious as possible. We remain committed to our overall target of three million homes by 2020 as the right long-term goal, whilst recognising the scale of the challenge this entails. The demand for housing primarily stems from the fact that we are living longer and there are more single person households. Builders and developers recognise that our built environment needs to be greener and more energy efficient and we continue to work with the industry to achieve our common goals.

You have been in the job now for around six months, is the role of housing minister a bigger challenge than perhaps you anticipated? Are you enjoying it?

It's certainly been a challenge, but it's incredibly rewarding too. I've met many people who have been helped into their first home as well as other people still in housing need. It’s a privilege to be leading the work which could genuinely transform their lives.

It's often said that people working in the field of social housing are just as important as other frontline public services workers such as nurses, teachers and police officers. Do you agree with that view?

The best housing can genuinely transform families’ lives. Social housing provides security and below market rents, and it should be the springboard that enables families to improve their lives and their community. Housing officers may not have the same high profile, but they provide a vital public service.

What's your key message to social housing professionals at this crucial time for the sector?

As we work through this difficult time in the housing market, I want to hear your ideas and solutions to the problems we face. Like you, I believe that everyone should have a fair offer and an excellent service, and I want to work with you to achieve that.