Jun 19 - Number Six: “GSD Are Reckless In The Extreme In Their Scaremongering”
The Government has said that the GSD, “no longer content with their lies and scaremongering” in relation to LNG, are now trying to mislead the public in relation to housing allocation.
The Government says that, during question time in Parliament on Wednesday, the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that 155 flats allocated not on the advice of the Housing Allocation Committee have been allocated to people who have leapfrogged the housing waiting list.
Number Six stresses that this is not the case as the Minister for Housing Samantha Sacramento clearly explained that not all allocations require the advice of the Housing Allocation Committee, as opposed to its advice on allocation not being followed. The Government says that the GSD have attempted to “maliciously manipulate” what was said in Parliament.
A statement of clarification from the Government continues:
“The majority of the cases relate to situations where there has been a housing exchange; this is where premises are exchanged like for like and the advice of the Housing Allocation Committee is not required, nor has it ever been provided. In cases where individuals are decanted, which means that they are re- housed due to problems with their own flat, they are either sent to a hotel if repairs can be undertaken quickly or allocated a new dwelling if repairs are major and if this is cheaper to the taxpayer. On both occasions, because flats are essentially swapped like for like, there is absolutely no effect on either the housing stock or the housing waiting list.
“Despite a clear explanation on this, the GSD have completely disregarded what was said in Parliament for political capital, suggesting to those on the waiting list that the system is not being applied fairly, which of course is not the case.
“There will, on occasion, be exceptional circumstances where allocations have to be made, but these will be done on an objective basis depending on the circumstances and not the individual, in the same way that has been done by all administrations.
“What they fail to recognize too is that this Government's new system of refurbishment means that allocations of dwellings are faster and, significantly, there are no empty homes awaiting repair for allocation as was the case when the GSD were in office.
“The GSD are clearly infuriated that this Government have provided more housing opportunities in four years than they did in sixteen. Not only is Government rental stock more readily available and faster, but almost one thousand new flats have already been built and are close to completion, and a further new low cost housing development has been announced this week.
“The GSD obviously need to complain about something albeit by casting false aspersions.”
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