Measures to end housing priority for refugees backed by MPs

MPs have voted in favour of new leglisation aimed at speeding up housing development by giving more control to the goverment, despite the last-minute inclusion of a clause which will stop refugees being given priority for new homes. The law gives the housing minister the power to designate building locations and set affordability requirements for new homes. But it also means refugees with residence permits cannot be prioritised for social housing, even in emergencies. Government lawyers earlier said the amendment,...