evidence: Social housing in this country dates back as far as the late 19th century, but the 1919 Housing and Planning Act saw the government embark on the first comprehensive plan to build social housing. Led by councils, this was the foundation of a large-scale programme of building that stretched through to the latter half of the 20th century. [...] At the same time, the powers and resources that local authorities previously had to build and manage social housing faced new restrictions. By 1983, social housebuilding had halved in just three years to 44,240. [...] 1.4 million fewer social homes today than in 1980 151,000 children growing up in temporary accommodation in England 1.3 million households on social housing waiting lists