Key Workers Living

Nurses will be among those most likely to be eligible

BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 27 March, 2004, at 1204 GMT.

The programme was repeated on Sunday, 28 March, at 2102 BST.

A new scheme to help "key workers" find affordable housing has been launched by the government.

Key Worker Living will replace the Starter Homes Initiative which had helped about 9000 public sector workers.

Have Your Say Will the scheme help you? Should the government do more for others? Click here to comment

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said the £690m scheme would help staff in education, health, police, fire and prison services in areas where "recruitment and retention is particularly difficult", such as London and the South East.

The financial help will take the form of loans, shared ownership schemes, and subsidised renting.

To discuss the scheme in detail, we spoke to Housing Minister Keith Hill.

Non key-workers

Whilst the scheme has been widely welcomed, critics have asked about the problems facing those who fall outside the definition of key workers.

Earlier this month, mortgage lender Halifax produced figures showing that in 80% of the largest towns throughout the UK first-time buyers were unable to afford a starter home.

We were joined by economist David Pannell, Director of Research at Investment Bank Durlacher, who has controversial views about the causes of the problem, and how it will be resolved.

Click here for other items on the programme

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Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Jennifer Clarke
Reporter: Louise Greenwood
Web Producer: Nathalie Knowles