MINISTERS have been questioned about the lack of social housing by Bolton West MP Julie Hilling in the House of Commons.

Ms Hilling claimed there were waiting lists of more than 11 years in parts of her constituency.

She asked Housing Minister Don Foster: “During the inquiry of the Communities and Local Government Committee into welfare reform, a housing provider in one of the universal pilot schemes reported that it would lose one proposed new-build property a week from its development programme. Has the Minister assessed the impact of welfare reform on the ability of social housing providers to build new homes, and can he tell us how many proposed new homes will now not be built?”

Mr Foster did not answer the question and criticised the Labour Government for its record on social housing.