The Conservative party says that it is committed to help more first-time buyers get onto the property ladder.

The Conservative party says that it is committed to help more first-time buyers get onto the property ladder.

The party claims that 2005 saw the lowest annual total of first-time buyers in 25 years.

It has a series of proposals to get more people investing in bricks and mortar, including affordable and eco-friendly homes for first-time buyers.

Alterations should be made to key worker schemes, which according to the Conservatives are only open to a small number of people who want to get onto the housing ladder.

The introduction of Home Information Packs (Hips) would also make first-time buyers more reluctant to enter the property market.

The Conservatives believe that Hips, which will require home sellers to compile a portfolio of information about their property, including a housing condition report, will decrease market confidence because of their significant costs.

However, Mike Ockenden, director general of the Association of Hip Providers, suggested that Hips would enable consumers to reduce their costs and improve their cash flows.

Caroline Spelman, shadow secretary for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, said: "We want to bring down the barriers to getting on the housing ladder, to share prosperity, to give families the scope to grow and to fulfil people's aspirations of having a home."