News

Few social workers are likely to benefit from the government's starter home initiative aimed at giving public sector workers a step up onto the first rung of the property ladder.

Stephen Byers, secretary of state for transport, local government and the regions, last week announced details of the £250 million scheme designed to tackle the shortage of public employees in high-cost areas (News, page 4, September 6). The scheme is aimed particularly at reducing the cost of living for workers in the south east of England.

But a spokesperson for the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions admitted that, although social workers would be eligible for the loans, "the main focus in this round will be the police, nurses and health workers and teachers".

Loans will be made to 3,992 nurses and health workers, 2,817 teachers and 892 police officers. Most of these loans will be granted to London-based workers.

Social workers will be left to compete with firefighters and transport workers for the remaining 311 loans - 189 in London and 122 outside.

Director of the British Association of Social Workers Ian Johnston described the details of the scheme as a "kick in the teeth".

"We are outraged," he said. "The government says it recognises the importance of what social workers do, but it needs to put its money where its mouth is.

"There is a huge recruitment problem, and it's a problem that is increasing in magnitude. I think that certainly this issue is so serious that people will be deprived of essential services."

Ninety-five individual local authorities, registered social landlords and constabularies who made successful bids for the scheme were due to be confirmed next week.

Workers hoping to benefit from the initiative should then apply to their local starter home initiative manager and check the DTLR (www.dtlr.gov.uk) and Housing Corporation (www.housingcorp.gov.uk) websites.

No closing date for applications has been set.