Question
2. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the rate of house building.
Answer
This Government are determined to achieve high and sustainable rates of house building, which is precisely why we have undertaken the most rapid, holistic and radical overhaul of the housing and planning system in decades. The headwinds are without question severe, but there are encouraging signs of progress, not least the 15% increase in housing starts that we saw over the last 12 months, ending in June this year.40% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (32/100)
The reply discusses how house building is going, citing a 15% rise in housing starts and describing the government's policy response. It does not say whether the current rate of building is adequate for housing need or against a target, which was the core of the question. A member of the public would likely still lack the answer they asked for and might need to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the department's assessment or view of the adequacy of the rate of house building. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply gives a view on the trajectory of house building (severe headwinds, encouraging progress, a 15% rise in housing starts) and describes the policy response, but it never states whether the current rate is adequate against need or target, which is what the item asks. |