The National Housing Federation (NHF) has welcomed the announcement by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett that the Government is not going to end secure and permanent tenancies for residents of social housing.

Ms Beckett made the announcement following intense press speculation that some in the Government were seriously considering making residents undergo regular reviews to see whether they had a continuing need for a social home.

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NHF Assistant Director Helen Williams said: "We welcome Ms Beckett's wise decision not to end secure and permanent tenancies for social tenants.

"Forcing people to show they were poor, through regular reviews, would have been counterproductive - and actually could have been a disincentive to looking for work.

"People who live in social housing are disproportionately from low income backgrounds and as such very few of them would be in a position to move or buy."

(CD/JM)