Lib Dems' plea for better social housing

12.00.00am GMT Fri 14th Nov 2008

Liberal Democrats on Leeds City Council are calling on the Government to introduce minimum size standards for family homes in Britain.

Cllr James Monaghan, lead member for Development on Leeds City Council, has raised concerns about the size of British social housing in relation to its European counterparts.

In a White Paper to go before Full Council on Wednesday, Cllr Monaghan states that England and Wales are the only countries in Western Europe to not have minimum size standards for family homes. This has led to social housing in our two countries being on average 30% smaller than the equivalent on the continent.

Cllr Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) commented:

"It is imperative that we raise our standards to match those of other Western European countries. We pride ourselves on being a compassionate nation and yet we are forcing the most disadvantaged families to live in homes that would not be acceptable in similar EU states. This Government needs to get its priorities straight and make real, positive changes to benefit real people".