New evidence has emerged that the Government's Right to Buy scheme is an abject failure and is leading to a significant reduction in vitally needed social housing, according to construction union UCATT.

It has been revealed that 80% of councils replying to a Local Government Association survey said that the system does not allow them to replace homes that are sold.

Last year, 10,000 homes were sold under the Right to Buy scheme but only 1,662 new homes were built.


Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "This demonstrates the insanity of the Government's policy. Everyone knows there is a desperate need to build council homes to tackle the housing crisis.

"The Government's only response has been to increase the sale of homes without any adequate provision to replace or increase the number of homes sold.

"The solution to the housing crisis is simple. The Right to Buy needs to be scrapped and the Government needs to invest in a massive council and social house building programme.

"Their failure to adopt such policies is causing misery to millions of people in inadequate housing who are marooned on council waiting lists."

(CD/JP)