It's always been the case that the private sector is more expensive to the taxpayer than social housing, even after benefit cuts, and it remains the case that, in the long run, we need more social housing and this will be cheaper. However, your statement acknowledges that social security payments themselves limit the choice that people have within the private rented sector so, to me, it's unclear whether this scheme will introduce greater subsidy to bridge that gap, or whether you as Minister are hoping that landlords will accept lower rent in exchange for a five-year guaranteed payment. So can you clarify whether additional subsidy is being put forward here to help enable people on benefits to access more expensive private rented properties than would otherwise be the case?

The second question I have is: one of the other problems in the private rented sector is the insecurity of tenure, and this scheme sensibly tries to avoid this through the provision of five-year leases. Can you confirm that landlords won't be able to exit this scheme for a quick sale once they have leased?

And then, finally, in the long run, will you also consider allowing local authorities to buy the properties that they might acquire through this scheme, because, in the long run, more housing stock is needed? We've lost a lot of housing stock as a result of the right to buy programme, and we need to avoid schemes like this becoming yet another way for the private rented sector to be publicly subsidised. Thanks.