A government select committee has criticised deputy prime minister John Prescott for his proposals to build one million homes in the south east of England over the next 20 years. A report by the environmental audit committee, chaired by Tory MP Peter Ainsworth, said the programme would increase the transport crisis and the risk of water shortages. The report also warned that Prescott’s plans could undermine prime minister Tony Blair’s attempt to tackle climate change, saying that poor housing developments were responsible for high carbon emissions. Ainsworth said: “The Government’s housing policy is an alarming example of disjointed thinking and an area where joined up policy is crucial.” He added: “ I accept the need to improve housing supply but, as things stand, the principal beneficiary of housing growth will be property developers, with the environment we all depend on being the principal loser.” In response Prescott said: “I have never seen such ill-informed conclusions, ignorant of what the government is doing on sustainable communities and tackling housing need.” Prescott has also been criticised by English Heritage over his plans to demolish 20,000 Victorian terrace homes on Merseyside.