Single mothers should put in a mother and baby home, like the 1950's style and why should they get rehoused by the council by sponging of the state by having more children by different fathers with no morals by being so selfish. They can't afford to have children in the first place.

Julie, Northampton, England

I have been a council for a long time, it is my home with my little boys cats Basil and Percy to keep my sane. There should be same changes to come in force, the teenage single mothes and young people, bad tenants should not be rehouse by the council. They should be rehoused into private housing

Julie, Northampton, UK

What about the good biding council tenants? They are going to suffer and Margeret Beckett is going to bully for those who need socail housing no fault of their own. Not any body can get a mortage due to their low incomes with children to support, those have disabilties, mental heallth problems.

Julie, Northampton, England

Perhaps the councils should look at the occupancy of their current stock. Much needed 3 bed homes are under occupied once the children leave the home. Wouldn't it also make sense to expand into the roof to convert 2 bed into 3 to ease the shortage facing growing families?

Nicky, Portsmouth, England

Smoking=£35 a week on average, cable=£50 per month, laptops, plasmas and mobile phone bills? That's a good few grand that people I know personally, who live in council properties, spend every year. Why don't they get a mortgage, give up bad habits and shop at Primark like the rest of us?

Jessica, Liverpool,

A council tenant gives rent to the council - adding to the councils services. A private tenant gives rent to a rich landlord. If that tenant needs housing benefit then tax payers are paying for a private home owner to get rich! Besides, having to move every six months is bad for children.

Sarah, Haverhill,

I suggest that they put land aside for people to live in tents and vans then, otherwise there are going to be an awful lot of sick elderly, disabled and unemployed people and families sleeping in shop doorways.. ever tried getting housing if you are disabled and unable to work.No chance,

angela, rugby, warwicshire

It is a disgrace for this government to asset strip council housing, thus creating an artificial socioeconomic disaster which means only the most disadvantaged qualifies for a council home, which in turn leads to the stigmatising of council tenants as scroungers, and second class citizens.

MA, London, UK

We need more council housing for every one who needs and wants one. That way we can attract the plumber, the doctor, the architect, the shop-keeper, and we can build strong and genuinely mixed communities. Council tenants are subsidising the treasury not the otherway round. Council housing is viable

Mary Alan, Camden Town, UK

Whatever the reasons given by ministers, the public will believe the real reason is that these homes are needed for immigrants from the Third World.
Changing the allocation priorities of public housing can completely ethnically cleanse neighbourhoods (eg Barking and Dagenham).

Roger B, Norwich,

There are too many people who are single living in big houses paid for or part paid for by their local authorities. Obviously tenants should be regularly means tested to ensure that the system is not being abused.
Drunks,drug addicts, benefit fraudsters etc also make it very hard for genuine cases

John, Bicester, UK

I rent a council flat & have done so for 10 years. Up until earlier this year I was earning a good wage but am now unemployed due to redundancy. I wouldn't want to see the end to the current system but I would like to see the cash incentives to move out of council housing brought back.

tama, Reading, Berkshire

Whilst the politicians play silly word games, people suffer horrendous housing conditions, whilst the politicians continue to move the goals posts, millions of children suffer horrendous conditions. Shame on the politicians...

Sue, Littlehampton, West Sussex

It is about time, with so few houses available they should go to those in greatest need, a family needs a house but once the children have grown why should the parents have the right to stay on in the house when they could be moved to a smaller flat and the house given to a couple with children.

Val, London,

Excellent idea. The current system is grossly unfair. But why have council houses at all? Surely a rent subsidy is all people are entitled to on a means tested basis, it's to them where they want to live then.

AP, bristol,

i am a foreigner renting a room in a house which is part of the housing association. am not sure if it's a council house. the landlord doesn't stay in the house and rents out all the rooms. i think this is quite sad people get council houses and profit from it while the genuine needy suffer.

Sarah Lee, London,

A council house should be temporary help for people in difficulties, and it should be the exception rather than the rule. Otherwise honest taxpayers subsidise the rents of wealthy council home mis-occupiers, and that's utterly unfair.

Peter, Liverpool, UK

Give housing onthe basis of how long people have been on the list not how many children they chose to have and immigrants to our contry should be last im afraid behind every British person same as they are anywhere else.

kate, london, uk

Harsh though it be, poverty does not infer rights that are beyond current resources. Either weed out those not so in need, or improve housing. Tax payer, as always, picks up the bill.

Lynn, East Sussex, UK

At one time I believe that you had to have a job to get a council house.My suggestion is to bring back higher income properties where you had a lease,paid the market rent and had to do all repairs.We lived in one in Essex in the 1960s.it was a lovely four bedroomed house on the edge of an estate.

Jan, London, England

Moggie's right to buy policy, though popular in the short run, turned out like all her policies to be a disaster in the long run.
now Zanulabour, like its founder Bliar, is turning in to the Neo-Tories under Bruin, who, like his heroine, is short sighted.

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

Turfing people out of their council house solves nothing if they've nowhere to go but people's needs do change through their lives. A family of 4 need more room than a widow, left on her own when the kids move on. But annual reviews are probably overkill since the cycle of life isn't that fast.

lyalld, Bexhill-on-Sea, England

i'm sick to death of seeing satalite tv, car bought by the state for mobility reasons, tennets smoking, drinking whilst their offspring run wild, complaing about there rights and needs whilst i'm slogging my balls off 60+hrs in factory worried about paying rent and bills or losing my job.

james, portishead, england

Very much in support of this ethos. I can't believe people were not reassessed on a regular basis!

I think the best plan would be to have a rent verses income (+ capital in savings etc) scale. This would mean that people who earn high amounts will have to pay higher rent than private rental.

scott, dundee,

We don't need more social housing being built, we need those that can pay their own way moved on into the private sector, freeing up social housing for those that need it. Get rid of the burden that are the scroungers and free-loaders and return social housing to its roots.

Chris, Derby,

The plus points for being allocated council houses: single mother, non-white, a drug-user or alcoholic, exploitative, getting others to lie on one's behalf, unable to co-habit with other adults, unemployable, lazy. Many of these do not apply to existing tenants, but sink estates are policy-driven.

Henry, Tenby, Wales

Good idea given the amount of BMWs parked around the council estate I rent a flat in.

Hugh, London,

i wonder how many people understand what the workhouse did to poor people? my mother 80 is unwilling to go to the local hospital(northen general) as she still remembers that her grandfather was forced to live and die there.
we have council housing to stop that happening again
build more not less

david, sheffield, uk

I know a couple . He is from Portugal, she is from Singapore. They just had a baby using national health IVF. Neither work. They have a council funded flat in London. I like them they are a very nice couple. We have to stop paying for people like this. Some pain is needed in the system.

Michael, London, UK

I know of a dysfunctional family in central London,who enjoy free board and lodging,have never done a days work and enjoy luxurious holiday homes and are driven around in Rolls Royces.They also have wonderful free holidays and all family weddings are paid for.They don't even carry cash around !

Mike, Dunstable, England

Selling off council houses cheaply under Margaret Thatcher and too high rent on the private sector. Bring back rent controls. My working class parents could pay the rent on a private house in the 50's and 60's. No rent rebates then.

Margaret , Walthamstow, England

What utter nonsense. For as long as I can remember, ministers have been threatening "crackdowns" on the clients of the welfare state. It never happens. Ministers aren't going to cut off their primary voters from free houses.

Richard Clarke, Chicago, USA

In my opinion the sale of council houses in the 80's was a big mistake, there were people buying 4 and 5 houses at a time, it was a well known scam of greedy people making quick money. there should always be councel houses to rent for people who can not afford to rent in my opinion!

Mary, Stockport, United Kingdom

Dear Govt take note: since 1979 too few social houses have been built. Result - vulnerably accomodated people end up in expensive and insecure private accomodation. Local authorities lack power to police their stock adequately so unsuitable tenants drag down neighbourhoods and can't be thrown out.

helen, london,

While this plan is flawed, I think that there should be a crackdown on abuse of the system. Investigations where people are driving expensive cars etc. And some kind of proof of looking for a job should be provided as well. These homes should be for those that really need them, not just want them

Graeme, Toronto, Canada

The idea of someone being given a council house, being allowed to buy it and then selling it on for a huge profit is disgraceful!

Perhaps the answer lies in simply not allowing council houses to be sold...

Sue, lancashire,

I live in Housing Association accommodation, my rent has been rising by roughly 7%pa for the past few years. I don't want to have a mortgage, yet even now with the credit crunch in full swing the govt wants to force people into taking out mortgages, or modern day serfdom.

John, Kings Lynn, UK

I am live in a council property, I am also disabled, there are few houses in the private sector that can accomedate my needs. I also work, I am not fantastically paid but would this be held against me? Council houses are life savers for people like me, we have a tough enough time as it is.

Rosusa Mansuran, Brighton, UK

Send a letter to everyone in a council house:

If you can work your rent is going up to commercial levels.

If you have more than 1 spare room get ready to move.

If you're a dosser you'll be banned for life from free housing.

Council houses are privilege in case you hit rock bottom, not a freebie

R Wilson, Salisbury, Wiltshire

I know a single mom who's been on the waiting list for 6 yrs now and has never heard anything from the council. But I also know that some councils are like banks when it comes to proof of income, they take people's word for it. I still take pride in struggling without council help.

Morgan, Bristol,

Not enough Social Housing has been built for the last 20 years and most sold off cheaply to Tennants. They now wonder why there is a shortage!!!!. Fixed, must do, increase. It's Back to the 1920's and the tally man comming. Right wing rubbish from bothsides they caused the problem!!1 Fix it

James , Brighton, England

Unbelievable, they give untold billions to the banking sector and with the other hand tighten the screws on the poor.

N Appleton, Birmingham, England

i have no problem if you seriously need housing..by all means it is a necessity in life. but considering most council estates (in London at least) are inhabited by asylum seekers is simply wrong. sell them off and let people who have low paying jobs use them so they can be close to work.

alex, London, England

Subsidised social housing should be on short term contracts with a maximum of 1 year then have to be reasseed, on earning better wages their rents should increase without delay, singles or childless couples living in family sized homes should be given notice they will be moved to 1 bedroom flats.

Contax, Brigg, England

I'll believe it when I see it! More "headlines" pretending to be Tory followed by the opposite action actually taking place! 11 years you have been playing this game so either do it or call an election so we can get a govt who follows through!

Ian, Tokyo, Japan

the Governement should build more houses!! how is it after one of the largest booms in property in recent past -the profit and equity has gone-the government should learn-from it-hold onto the land and complete joint ventures with builders-and sell off half of the growing equity-then reveiw in 10 yr

Keith Skelton , Colombo, Sri Lanka

There would be no housing crisis without over-population, this is the "elephant in the room" that no one in Government (other than Phil Woolas, now shamfefully silenced) is brave enough to acknowledge. Deal with that and everything else follows. Leave it and chaos will ensue !

Wade Hampton, Southampton,

The first people to lose their house on a review would be those who are living in accommodation which is too big for them - the recently bereaved, for example. Is that really what we want to see? It would not stop the acknowledged abuses of the system. I'd far rather see removal of right to buy.

Catherine Rowlands, Tamworth,

i have been on the housing list for 14 years and on the homeless list for 8 i do not take drugs or drink so i am told i am low prority

chas mac, penicuik, scotland

What utter nonsense! If there is that many peole on waiting lists then more social housing should be built. There is upwards of a million empty homes in this country, many belonging to local authorities. Bring these back in to use by restoration and a huge number would come off the waiting lists.

Ian R, Stoke On Trent, England

There seems to be a perception that all council tenants are scroungers; not true. Its OK for those who are on the proprty ladder to pontificate about social tenants living on subsidised rents but many cannot afford to buy their own properties in an over-inflated market caused by greedy home owners.

Ian R, Stoke On Trent, England

its all very well taking measures for council houses, but should ms becket start by preventing the waste of money within the civil service. millions of pounds that could be better spent on those who need it. they should be more careful and cleanup there own doorsteps. they should sort that out first

sandra bowes-rennox, bargoed, south wales

I'm surprised nobody has checked before whether a person is still in need for subsidized housing, so I think it's about time somebody does. If you improve your financial situation, you should move on (or rather, move out) and allow another person in real need to be helped.

Paulina, London, UK

It anooys me when council house tenants have nice new cars and foreign holidays. I struggle to pay a mortgage, while these people are far better off and have more disposable income! Then they moan because their rent is £60 a week and the council haven't yet fitted their new kitchens!

Nick, Swindon,

I hate to point this out but if this idea is put into practice, in London at least, it will result in indigenous Brits being forced to move home to be replaced by ethnic minorities who have just arrived in the country.

The majority of the 'homeless' in London are just such people.

Danny, London, England

Re the point about higher tax rate individuals should pay a market rate - they shouldn't be in a council house in the first place! C houses should be for those who can't afford anything else - current system is unfair on those in need.

michelle, Stoke on Trent,

Has to be a good idea. I know of one 38yr old living on his own in a four bedroom council house that used to be his parents.
On the other hand the Government compounded the problem by kicking the immigration doors open with no plans to support the influx in any way.

Phill, The Wirral, England

Waiting outside the school gates in 1979, a mother in a desirable council house complained bitterly that her rent had gone up by 50p a week. Her husband's business was doing very well. Our (owned) house was not much better but our mortgage had just gone up by £10 a week. I still remember how I felt.

Maria, Edinburgh,

what council houses? They sold the lot off for a fast buck and through sheer greed. Everyone has a right to somewhere to live and there has been no investment for decades. We cant all aspire to be home owners. Those of us who do the menial low paid dead end jobs need affordable housing.

jim mcewan, london,

It's about time! In my area there's loads of retired couples living in the same 4 bed council house they recieved in the 60s- people like this should be made to downsize to free up home for people who need them.

"People in council homes...can end up relatively wealthy"- says it all really.

Ruth, slough,

There's a council tenant below me. I rent an unmodernised flat, and work my guts off to afford the rent.

Flat below me has been given to a council tenant, and the whole place was gutted and modernised for her, for free. It's worth £600k, she brags how she'll sell it for a profit.

Sickening.

James, London, UK

Those who were born in the UK (or have UK passports) should be given priority. How many council houses/flats have been given to foreign nationals who should have been at the back of the queue. This government have let in over a million people and now they wonder why there is a shortage of housing!

John, London, UK

Encourage older couples / single people living in 3 bedroom houses in the socially rented sector, to move to a smaller property - to free up much needed family homes. Accept many will never earn enough to afford private rented or house purchase + maintenance costs. We need more social housing!!

John Marshall, Boston Lincs, UK

Council tenants do not have their rents subsidized. They subsidize central government. . In Leeds that is about 39% of their rent goes to the treasury. Single mums don't automatically get "given" a council house in this day and age, either, far from it.

Madeleine, Leeds, W Yorks

I am 28 and could not afford to go to university so I have worked since leaving school. I support myself and rent my own flat and believe that council housing should be reserved for the TRULY in need and not just those who think they have a god given right to be subsidized by the rest of us!

Name withheld, Manchester,

Time to end the labour party houses-for-votes policy, ever since means testing was removed.

R Bowden, London,

Labour is more concerned about foreign underdeveloped countries falling into poverty, while making people in Britain where jobs are being lost on a damning scale, fuel, food and house prices and huge rent rates are through the roof, be made pay intimidating higher rent rates or face eviction!

Jim Hunter, Belfast, Ireland

Sian, I'm not in favour of hostel type accommodation, we've come a long way from the "Workhouse". I do believe that having a child should not automatically qualify someone for council housing and there should be some continuing parental responsibility.

Nigel, Epsom, UK

The post-marxist Chinese seem to be able to not only build superb Olympic venues, new high-speed railways, and bridges galore, as well a new capital city airport on time which actually works but also to house millions of their citizens. Perhaps its time to tap into this know-how and can-do.

L Colquhoun, Launceston, Australia

About time. No pregnant unmarried woman should be given free housing: let them live with their boyfriends or family. I know of very middle class parents who faked marital rift for their son to get a council flat, which he then bought and sold on at a profit. Our indulgence has corrupted society.

Richard, Liverpool, UK

I think this is a sensible policy. It would lighten the burden on Gov funds and hard-pressed taxpayers. Too many people manipulate the various support systems in place for the vulnerable and benefit significantly. A policy of being careful with our tax money should underpin any Gov party, incl Lab.

Martina, London, England

Beckett should be proud of the Socialist roots...Council estates..Perhaps caravan parks will be the next Valhalla ?Why not admit that the REAL agenda is to get all NON Lab voters out so as to make SAFE labour seats !
Under NULAB house prices have risen by 320% (On par with MPs Expenses and salary)?

Tony, Derby, UK

You have only to wander around ANY estate in ANY part of the UK now to see the situation.
Young single mothers, their cherubs running riot in the streets, their "donors" wandering from house to house "donating", creating yet more offspring.
And all on the poverty line - poverty of CARE, that is.

Darius Midwinter, London,

Some common sense at last, we in the private sector can't imagine the psychological benefits of being guaranteed a home for life no matter how much, or how little, income or wealth you accrue. For decades I've see social tenants enjoy big TVs, fancy cars and nice holidays while we can't, not fair!

Evan Owen, Harlech, Wales

In response to Linda, Peterborough I see it from the opposing point.

Should those of us who put their hard earned money into setting up their own home pay for those who don't. I have yet to hear of a single person who lives in a council flat who pays the full rate of council tax.

Mark Vickery, Sittingbourne, Kent

Just one problem I can see here. If the tenant is on a short contract then the incentive to keep the house in reasonable order will decrease and the state of the properties will decline. Take a look at some of the social housing on the , so called, 'sink estates ' that exist now.

Anthony, Wretton, UK

We need more secure tenancies in public housing with a socially mixed population - not ghettoes of temporary accommodation for the indigent and desperate.

What's wrong with a cabinet minister living in a council flat? More ministers should live among their less well-off constituents.

kath bell, Nottingham, England

The most dreaded words a labour MP can ever utter : "Hey, I've got a great idea, why don't we ...."

Douglas Maxwell, Richmond, Yorkshire

In other words they wish to free up more council properties for immigrants and asylum seekers

John, Manchester, England

What these plans will do is help to kill communities, as when your kids move out of you partner dies you’ll be forced to move from your home and everything you know. To live whether there is a smaller property in your district, if you're lucky it’ll be near where you used to live.

George Rhodes, Epping, Essex

Would CIH say those who can ‘afford’ should pay for their health care or kids education? That, of course, would go against the post war consensus that millions of people support. Better to start with council tenants who can be more easily stigmatised and some must think more easily bullied!

Alan Walter, London, UK

Another desperate sop to the curtain twitchers of middle England.

I own my home and work hard to pay my mortgage but don't feel the need to hurt other people to make myself feel better, which is what this policy is playing on.

Deference for toffs and hatred for single mums. England O England.

John Hillman, London, UK

No one deserves subsidised rent. If you cant afford to rent privately, then you are trying to live in a location that is above your means.
Move to somewhere cheaper.

ben, London, England

I wonder many of the people saying this is a great idea bought their current house or a house on the 'Right to Buy' scheme?

Sam Oakes, Loughton, Essex

Finally! Acknowledgement. Now, lets execute the plan with vengeance. Start with London, and work outwards.

There are plenty of houses which will become available in the next year or so as landlords can't afford multiple assets. Either they are sold or put under housing schemes for the poor.

Name withheld, Cheltenham,

This will mean that that thos can afford to, and want to, stay in their council houses will be charged extra rent - You spend 20 years working on and maintaining a council house and you are just going to move out? I think not. You will elect to pay more rent: This proposal is simply to increase rent

Elfed Dowler-Jones, Llanelwy, UK

Young single mothers should not be given their own house.They should be put into hostel type homes with the support they need and then we would have enough houses for the needy. It is a great business being a young single mother, you get a free house, plus, plus, plus..

Siân, Frankfurt, Germany

Has no one got this yet? This is big brother for the poor!

Has this country come so far with class discrimination that it is saying if you can buy a home then we will leave you to live your life, but if you rent then we can attack your life and threaten your home.

Back off!

Linda, Peterborough, UK

Yvette Cooper made these decisions last year, it seems a heartless cold move to clear our cities of elderly longterm people from their council flats to clear the way for workers and immigrants and their families.
Link .http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/601423
Utter tosh!

Mrs Maggie Snook, Wool , Wareham, Dorset UK

The problem is that there are not enough council properties to go round and the influx of people from all corners of the world who get priority over British people is making the problem worse.Labour's policy on social housing has been pathetic,as bad as the Torys.What a wasted opportunity.

Les, Sheffield,

In Spain they can throw you out of a Council house if you inherit a property, even if that property is 300 miles away. Thus you gain a house but have to find a new job, new schools for the kids and new friends. Soon the marxists will allocate rooms per family per house as seen in Dr. Zhivago.

Robert, San Sebastian, Spain

I'd welcome the return of prefabricated housing to meet the governements shortfall. Public opinion is changing, an Englishmans home is no longer his castle, people aren't as willing to spend their life saving for expensive, high maintainence houses. Estate value should reflect personal appreciation

Chris, Tokyo, Japan

Beckett's Green paper will be just another headline grabbing statement. There were enough from Flint. It will not be a practical initiative and follow the Governments usual tactic of 11 years, of all spin and no delivery.

They haven't delivered on any promises yet.

B.Garvie, Reading, England

It's hard to believe this is actually a Labour government.

David, Cambridge, UK

The best idea for years - the current system is a nonsense.

Mark Piazza, Walton on Thames, UK

When my friend turned 18 she and her mother made up a story that she was a prostitute and had run away from home as her mother had kicked her out - she ended up with her own council flat at the age of 18.

anon, Camden, England

Good idea. If people can afford to look after themselves, are able to work, they do not need accommodation subsidized by others which should be reserved for those genuinely in need.

Richard, Bury, England

Not before time. Why should my sister in law keep her 5 bed council home once her children have grown up and moved out? It would be put to better use by another large family. I know that it is unpopular, but why chould the government have a duty to house everyone?

Smudger, Flitwick, England

The Labour government fails to understand that some people will never be in a position to buy, due to income, due to age, due to circumstance. This will lead to a chaotic situation in which widows and the parents of adult children are forced out of homes into flats. Another bad idea from Labour.

Tony Makara, Manchester,

About time too. Council houses should be only allocated when deemed neccessary and the occupants should be means tested on a regular basis.

Hamad Lone, London, England

Social housing should only be accessed by those that genuinely qualify for that help, and only when they need that help. It is wrong that one person gaining a tennancy should be able to let others who do not qualify to move in with them at all, let alone claim overcrowding, as happens now.

Penny, London,

Best idea for some years, one that needs to be brought in very soon to ease the housing crisis in this time of repossessions.

The Government also needs to ensure that the status of council tenants is reviewed every year, in line with their other benefits.

K Urban, London, UK

About time too. Also the rights of sitting tenants in private rented accomodation shold be phased out over a few years.
For the country's future we must get rid if automatic benefit dependancy: it stiffles society and is an unfair burden on those hard workng families who pay their way

William, London,

Is this a policy overtaken be events? Certainly there should be no subsidized rents, but MB might consider whether the credit crunch will change people's desire to own their homes. There is chance that all but he rich might prefer to rent.

Richard, Chesterfield,

Don't penalise the loyal tenant when really the need is for more houses to be built. The councils have not built houses for years and the authorities have allowed private house prices to get out of control. So no surprises then that people need houses and there are not any available.

bob taylor, castelnau, France