Tories Demand End To HIP's

Conservatives have today been calling for a suspension of Home Information Packs (Hips).The Tories say that the Hips are putting off speculative sellers, reducing sales, and stopping sellers from switching between estate agents in England and Wales, where the packs are compulsory.

However, the government has rejected the proposal, saying that global economic pressures are the real reason behind the UK housing market's troubles.

Conservatives say that a clause in the original Act which introduced Hips on to the market can be invoked, which would result in their immediate suspension. For its part, the government stated that it has no plans to discontinue the packs.

Housing spokesman Grant Shapps said: "If Gordon Brown genuinely wanted to help the beleaguered housing market, he would use his powers to suspend this harmful regulation and save homebuyers' money." Branding Hips as "unnecessary red tape", he added: "These little-known provisions to suspend Hips were introduced for a reason - to undo the regulations quickly if it all went wrong."