Government to offer cheap houses to low-paid

THOUSANDS of low-paid workers are to be offered cheap houses on State-owned land from next year.

The radical house-building plans form part of the proposed national pay deal, due to be discussed by unions and employers in crucial meetings today.

The initiative is expected to be partly funded by raiding the pension reserves in what would be a major U-turn by the Government, which ruled out such a move in the election campaign.