The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has awarded honorary membership to Sir George Young, Conservative Member of Parliament for North West Hampshire and former Minister of Housing and Planning in John Major's Government.

Sir George becomes CIH's 51st honorary member and is the first MP and former Government Minister to be granted CIH honorary membership. He joins a list featuring some of the most influential names in UK housing such as Lord Richard Best, Ted Cantle and Dame Mavis McDonald.

CIH President Steve Benson presented the award at his Regional Presidential Dinner in Winchester on 25 September.

Mr Benson said: "Sir George has a long association in parliament with housing and regeneration including working with Michael Heseltine following the Brixton riots and his subsequent involvement in the New Towns and early urban regeneration initiatives. The change he led as Housing and Planning Minister under John Major was even more far-reaching and has implications that remain a key part of today's housing landscape - the development of the Rough Sleepers Initiative, the stock transfer programme and reform of leasehold.

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"More recently, we are particularly grateful for the leadership he has provided in securing important amendments to the Housing and Regeneration Bill, which went through Parliament this year. These amendments will help create a strong institutional platform for the housing profession to work with and will again have far reaching benefits for millions of people."

Sir George said: "This is a great honour for me, and I am most grateful to CIH for it. I enjoyed working with them in the 1980's and 1990's and always listened to the professional and impartial advice which they gave. I have vivid memories of lively exchanges at Harrogate!

"Housing Ministers of all parties have been grateful that the energy and resources of the CIH and its members have been available to help them in the challenges they faced; and I have enjoyed working with CIH from the backbenches on the recent Housing Bill. Honorary membership means that this association can continue and I look forward to this".

(CD/JM)