To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate studies concerning the impact of the spread of employment by short-term contract instead of permanent contracts of employment, on the ability of persons and families to obtain mortgages for the purchase of homes. [37334]

My Department has no current proposals for studies concerned specifically with the impact of labour market changes on the mortgage/housing market. However, employment trends figure prominently in many housing research areas and in our discussions with mortgage lenders.