Housing
James NEWBURY (Brighton) (09:47): Thirty years ago a public housing resident in my community went into her Brighton East home and the department approved her setting up an above-ground pool. Twenty-seven years later the department has ordered that the pool be removed without explanation. The retired resident uses the pool for therapeutic benefits due to medical conditions. For years the resident has been fighting the decision and recently said to me, ‘It’s become a lengthy process and put more pressure on me and my health.’ Despite representations to the minister, the government has coldly told the public housing tenant that they cannot have pools full stop. Why should public housing tenants, especially ones who have had a discreet facility in their home for 30 years, be disadvantaged because they live in social housing?