Secret government notes accidentally revealed by minister on the way to Cabinet meeting

House prices could fall later this year by 5 to 10 per cent 鈥渁t best鈥�, according to notes accidentally revealed by a government minister.

Caroline Flint

Housing minister Caroline Flint was photographed carrying the briefing documents into a Cabinet meeting.

The notes also said housebuilding figures for 2008/9 were 鈥渁lmost certain鈥� to be well down on the 200,000 extra homes produced in each of the last two years.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 know how bad it will get,鈥� the notes warned. 鈥淏ut we need to plan now to put in place effective measures against the risk it does get worse and prepare for the up-turn.鈥�

The government will announce a package of measure to assist first time buyers tomorrow, according to the document.

The note concluded in bold, underlined type that it was 鈥渧ital鈥� the government show that 鈥渁t this time of uncertainty we show that we are on people鈥檚 side鈥�.

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