I finally heard back from my MP Gillian Keegan, who enclosed a letter from Heather Wheeler - Minister for Housing and Homelessness.
Note no reply from James Brokenshire of Kit Malthouse.
Anyway, it said
"ensuring consumers have access to redress with housing is a priority for this government"
"The government has now announced measures to champion the rights of homebuyers and help ensure that when they buy a new home they get the quality build they rightly expect."
"We intend to legislate to require all new developers to belong to a new homes ombudsman ... we will publish details in due course"
Note this says "intend" not "will" and does not say
WHEN details will be published.
Surely if this was a "priority for this government" there would be a strict implementation timetable and deadlines, not a woolly "in due course" It is just not good enough!