On Friday the Homelessness Reduction Bill passed its final Commons stages. It is a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Conservative backbencher Bob Blackman who came second in the ballot for the right to bring in a new piece of legislation. The bill has government support and the government have backed it with an announcement it is putting in £61 million of taxpayers money to improve services for those facing homelessness. Inevitably the problem of homelessness is linked to the need to build more homes. I agree if there is demand we need to build more homes and we need low cost homes for those who are dependent on the state. For whatever reason for shelter. I see no contradiction between accepting this fundamental truth and arguing we should not be building on the green belt. I doubt many of the homeless in towns like Bury and big cities like Manchester will be able to afford the type of property I envisage developers might have in mind for the green fields if ever they were allowed to build on our green belt.