A key issue in my postbag is the need for affordable housing, particularly for families and young people. I want to see more people able to purchase their own homes and schemes such as Homebuy are helping that to happen. The Government have set ambitious targets for more houses to meet the needs of the families of the future and those ambitions remain mine.

But some residents because of low incomes or because of ill health or disabilities may find it hard to purchase their own home or to rent in the private sector and that's when social housing has a role to play. I grew up on a council estate, as did my wife and many of my friends. It's no stigma to be "from the estate" and some of the people I knew then and still know now, are amongst the best people you will find in the world.

But it's true to say that during the recession of the 80's many of the old "council estates" became areas where there were pockets of long term unemployment which in some cases has continued for generations. In some estates children grow up knowing no-one in work. That's not just bad for society, but it's devastating for the families and children who are in that situation.

So I welcome Housing Minister Caroline Flint's proposals to help new applicants for social housing to get a foot on the ladder of employment. The idea is to ask those applying for housing who are not in work, to sign a "commitment contract" giving the opportunity of skills training and hands-on support to deal with the challenges to employment.

Much of that help is, of course, already available to job seekers and, through Jobcentre Plus, to many others, but the idea of focusing a wraparound package of support through the housing service is certainly worth a look.

The risk at present is that, because some areas of social hosing have such low levels of employment, it can become the norm and it's that encouragement and breaking of the cycle that these plans are all about. And with better life prospects, tenants will be even more empowered to become involved in their communities and to help improve services and drive up standards on their estates.

Social housing will always be part of the housing mix but I hope these new proposals will help ensure that our estates are not just a "safety net" for tenants but a springboard for their future lives.