As damaging uncertainty continues over whether or not the Government will introduce a stamp duty suspension or deferment scheme, Trevor Ivory has called on Gordon Brown to use government powers to suspend Home Information Packs (HIPs) to help boost the beleaguered housing market.

Twelve months on from their introduction, there is growing evidence that HIPs deter speculative sellers, increase transaction costs, discourage sellers from changing estate agent and reduce the number of housing transactions – all compounding the economic downturn.

Mr Ivory said, “I believe that urgent action is needed to kick start the housing market in North Norfolk. But Labour is dithering and their spin and speculation over stamp duty is further undermining the market, by making buyers wait and see.

“Before HIPs were introduced, Ministers ignored warnings from experts and industry that this new red tape would harm the housing market and the economy. These warnings are coming true, but Ministers are more interesting in saving face than saving homebuyers money.

“Gordon Brown only wants to talk about housing to create a distraction from Labour leadership speculation. If he genuinely wanted to help, he would use his powers to suspend HIPs straight away. A future Conservative Government will scrap this unnecessary red tape completely, but a suspension now will deliver those benefits sooner rather than later.”