Member

The question of housing equity is important. We have to contend with increasing housing demand. We have certainly had stagnant wages, although I appreciate that they have been going up again recently. We also have significant disparities. It is a myth that people in the countryside are wealthy. It is a myth that somehow salaries in places such as Liverpool are much lower than in places such as sunny Suffolk. It is a complete and utter myth with regard to housing costs as well. That is why I was concerned to learn that this, in effect, discrimination goes all the way back to 1997. I should declare to the Committee that I had hoped to discuss some other amendments alongside this today, which initially were deemed not in scope but now have been, so I will reserve some of my detail to when we speak to them.