The Chancellor of the Exchequer was quizzed today by Banbury MP Victoria Prentis on what steps the Government has taken to help first-time buyers.

Mrs Prentis asked George Osborne what more was being done following his announcement last year that Bicester would get £19m to transform into a garden town.

Speaking in the House of Commons today she said: "Following the promise of an extra £19m from the Treasure to help make Bicester garden town a reality, will the Chancellor update the House on the other means he is using to encourage house building, particularly for first-time buyers?"

Mr Osborne said he was "delighted" to be able to give funding to the garden town project and said the Government would continue to invest in new starter homes and shared equity products.

He said: "Those are all things we are doing to make sure this is a home-owning democracy."