TO THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PERSONNEL

(PETER ROBINSON)

Mr Burns: I welcome the monitoring round, especially the £20·4 million for new social housing. How much money is going into co-ownership to help young first-time buyers get on the property ladder?

Mr P Robinson: The Minister for Social Development is better suited to answer that question. However, I have found that the main issue in co-ownership is its current level, which is something that the Minister must examine. Undoubtedly, if the Minister does do that, she will come back to me saying that I should fund it because it was my idea. It is of real benefit to the community if people have a stake in their own property. I welcome the Member’s remarks about the money for social housing. I indicated in the draft Budget speech that I thought that the Executive would have to revisit that area if they can free more resources through asset sales.

The Minister for Social Development has targets, which were set down in the Semple Report, and she and I will be keen to get close to, if not beyond, those targets as the years develop.