The Minister for Housing says the Government is actively working to increase the availability of rental housing across the board by thinking outside the box - arguing that it is "not efficient or sustainable to simply build more".

However, the GSD says the Government statement is merely a "weak and ineffective attempt at deflection" from their reneging of their manifesto commitment to build extra housing for government rental.

The Minister for Housing says projects are already underway to construct more rental housing for the elderly, and that this will release existing rental accommodation to the general stock - adding the Government's commitments on affordable housing also have a significant positive impact.

Steven Linares says the Government is actively pursuing policies that make the best use of existing stock and also of Gibraltar's limited land and resources - adding if it is to construct, it must do so effectively.

For its part, the GSD says the Government's 2011 and 2019 manifestos committed them to constructing more rental housing stock for both the elderly and the general housing list.

Shadow Minister for Housing, Damon Bossino, says Mr Linares' statement that the Government will only build rental housing for the elderly is a significant change of tack, arguing that the Government should admit this change in policy so that a mature political debate can be had.

In a further reaction, the Government hit back again accusing the GSD of exploiting housing issues for political gain, adding their statement merits no further response.

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