To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the causes of the recent trends in the level of home ownership. (145225)

Low mortgage rates and economic stability have increased the number of home owners by over one million since 1997. However, rising house prices have created pressure for first-time buyers. Kate Barker's review of housing supply showed that the industry had not been building enough homes to meet demand for over a generation.

The annual rate of new housing supply has increased by 40 per cent. since 2001 but we plan to go further in order to address the long-term problems of worsening affordability and help more people realise their aspirations to own their own home.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level of home ownership was in England in each year since 1996-97. (145169)

Estimates of the level of home ownership in England from 1996 to 2006 are shown below. This is based on a sample survey and so results can fluctuate from one year to the next.