Ministers have defended their plans to extend the
right-to-buy to housing association tenants as parties clashed over the
government's Housing Bill. Communities Secretary Greg Clark said it would lead
to an increase in housing stock and help people "realise the dream"
of home ownership. But Labour predicted a "fire sale" of
affordable homes. The Housing and Planning Bill is the first to be considered
under new "English votes for English laws" rules. Ahead of its second
reading, Speaker John Bercow said parts of it "apply exclusively" to
England and others to England and Wales only. Read more on the BBC website.
