John opens door to decent homes

Deputy prime minister John Prescott showed a glimpse of the future to council tenants in his East Hull constituency when he opened a brand new Decent Homes show house.

Mr Prescott is leading a programme to improve around two million council homes throughout Britain - and there was no better place to meet some of the many people whose lives will be improved than on his own doorstep.

Tenants can drop into the newly-renovated show house, on Anson Road,Bilton Grange, to see the quality theycan expect in their own homes.During the next five years, Hull City Council will spend £189 million to bring every one of its houses up to the Decent Homes Standard, as outlined by Mr Prescott's office. "We were delighted Mr Prescott came.

Tenants have been impressed with the quality on offer and their feedback has been very constructive," said Cllr Ken Turner, responsible for housing in the city. Meanwhile, Mr Prescott also chose Hull as a platform from which to make a speech to the nation giving his backing to the huge reforms to the nation's secondary schools.

In a speech at Preston Road's Freedom Centre, Mr Prescott said: "I want good schools for everyone, and not just the few at the expense of the many."Around £200 million is being spent on either rebuilding or refurbishing the city's secondary schools as part of the Building Schools for the Future Project.