Mr Blair says home condition reports will bring 'tremendous benefits'

The prime minister said mandatory surveys, or home condition reports, had been shelved following representations from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

But Tory leader David Cameron said it was one of a number of Labour plans to hit the buffers in recent weeks.

He accused Mr Blair of being unable to implement his government's programme.

'Pattern' emerging

The exchanges came during a rowdy question time ahead of the MPs' long summer recess.

During a later opposition-led debate on the issue, the Tories urged the government to scrap the home information pack scheme altogether.

I think you need to mug up on this area because after all, you are going to be moving house soon David Cameron 'U-turn' claim on house packs

Mr Cameron goaded Mr Blair that a "pattern" was emerging with plans for ID cards, police mergers, home information packs and tougher laws to protect public servants from assault all "dropped" in recent weeks.

He said the prime minister had a "complete inability" to implement government policies and a "lack of judgment" in leaving his deputy John Prescott in charge during Mr Blair's holidays.

Mr Blair insisted plans for ID cards and tougher penalties for assaulting public servants were still going ahead.

He then took a swipe at Mr Cameron: "Before you criticise our policy-making skills, you should acquire some of your own."

He said that as a result of representations by the Council of Mortgage Lenders it was "not going to be possible to proceed with the mandatory home condition report".

'Significant risks'

"However, we will of course have to proceed with the energy performance certificates since that is now required by European Union legislation," he said.

The government would wait until the reports had been further piloted to ensure that "we don't end up in a situation where ordinary consumers are spending about �1m a day on aborted house sales".

But Mr Cameron replied: "I think you need to mug up on this area because after all, you are going to be moving house soon."

He said Housing Minister Yvette Cooper had said that introducing HCRs would have "significant risks and potential disadvantages".

"For months we were told about the benefits of these reports - now we're told about the disadvantages," he said. "Why did ministers get it so wrong?"

'Sensible' decision

Mr Blair said there would be "tremendous benefits in the home condition reports, because people waste a lot of money... (on surveys) and then losing that money if the sale doesn't go through".

"But if the Council of Mortgage Lenders, having consulted their members, say that won't be enough in order for people to get a mortgage because they will be asking for an additional report - of course it's sensible to make it voluntary rather than mandatory," he said.

The exchange of words followed Ms Cooper's announcement on Tuesday that home condition reports needed further testing and will not come into force in England and Wales in June 2007 as planned.

There are also concerns there will not be enough inspectors to cope with demands for home condition reports.

For the Conservatives, shadow housing minister Michael Gove said: "This scheme was flawed at its heart and needs a fundamental review. It is time for the government to go back to the drawing board."

The new law had required people to assemble, at their own cost, a pack including title deeds, local authority searches, answers to standard questions and energy performance certificates - before they put their house up for sale.

It had been expected to cost �650, although it is expected to be cheaper if the survey element is not included.