Goldsworthy quizzes Flint on eco-towns

2.05.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

• ' . . THE imposition of eco-towns against the will of the local community and its elected representatives . .'

[Jul 01] Julia Goldsworthy (Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Department for Communities and Local Government; Falmouth & Camborne, Liberal Democrat): The Minister's Department likes to talk the talk about community empowerment and engagement, but it does not walk the walk. Is that not apparent in its approach to eco-towns? What does the Minister think speaks more loudly to the British public: a declaration of passionate commitment to the empowerment agenda, or the imposition of eco-towns against the will of the local community and its elected representatives through site-specific planning policy guidance that can then be overturned on appeal? Do not actions speak louder than words?

Caroline Flint (Minister of State (Housing), Department for Communities and Local Government; Don Valley, Labour): Nice speech, but completely wrong. The fact is that we have just completed one round of consultation in which we have received many different responses, and we will be consulting on a draft planning statement on eco-towns and a sustainability appraisal, which will take place. I am visiting every location and elected representatives have been asked if they want to be part of that. I have been meeting people who are opposed, but I have also been meeting people whose voices often are not heard: individuals and families who are on housing lists, and those who are living in other people's homes-sleeping on sofas and elsewhere-such as youngsters who have moved away from their families but cannot afford a home in their areas.

I challenge anyone to suggest that we are not being inclusive, and that we are not allowing voices to be heard; but there is more than one voice in this debate. At the end of the day neither the Liberal Democrats nor the Tory party have any policies that attempt to meet the housing challenges of supply and affordability in this country, and that is a disgrace.