Wolverhampton North East MP, Emma Reynolds, has today called on the Government to use the funds from the upcoming auction of the new 4G mobile phone spectrum to build 100,000 affordable homes.

During questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Emma highlighted job losses in the construction industry and the potential 150,000 jobs which could be created by the building of 100,000 new affordable homes.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Emma said:

“Output in the construction industry fell by 2.5% in the third quarter of 2012 and the construction sector as a whole has lost 119,000 jobs since the Tory-led Government came to power.

According to the National Housing Federation, if funding from the 4G sale was used to build 100,000 affordable homes, over 150,000 jobs could be created in the construction industry and up to 600,000 in the wider supply chain.

Why won’t the Government take up this proposal?”

Speaking after asking her question, Emma said:

“It is clear that the Government is missing a huge opportunity to create jobs, encourage growth in our economy and give thousands of people the opportunity to take their first steps towards owning their own home.

In my constituency, the average salary is £17,768, whereas the average house price is £112,256 and private rents are increasing. I commend the work that Wolverhampton City Council is doing to increase the number of affordable homes in our City but national government also has a responsibility.

In addition to this, the jobs created could be vital to our economy and to the construction industry. The construction industry has been in alarming decline since this Government took over and wider unemployment is still running at an unacceptably high level. In this context, to ignore an opportunity to create 150,000 jobs is inexcusable.”