Question
The question is about reducing the cost of renting. What is the contribution of the 4% increase to a reduction in the cost of renting? Mr Speaker, my interest is recorded in the register.
Answer
As I said to the right hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Steve Barclay), affordability is dependent on a number of factors. Ultimately, the only way we can bring greater affordability is by increasing the supply of new homes. I look forward to the full-throated support of the right hon. Member for New Forest West (Sir Desmond Swayne) for new housing developments in his constituency.33% point-scoring
Verdict: RED (20/100)
The question asked how much the specific 4% increase contributed to rising rent costs. The reply only gave a general view that affordability depends on several factors and that building more homes is the main solution, so it did not assess that 4% figure at all. The response was hedged and partly off-point, and a member of the public would likely need to ask again for a specific answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the department's assessment of the contribution that the 4% increase makes to reducing the cost of renting? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply gives only a general position that affordability depends on several factors and that increasing supply is the only real route, but it never assesses the contribution of the specific 4% increase to rent costs. Statement 3 is point-scoring and does not bear on the item. |