Section 21 No-fault Evictions Sarah Green (Chesham and Amersham)
(LD) 1. When he plans to end section 21 no-fault evictions.
(902291) Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD) 21. When he plans to end section
21 no-fault evictions. (902312) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Felicity
Buchan) On behalf of the Department, I would like to wish every
good luck to the England and Wales football teams. I have just
heard the...Request free trial
Section 21 No-fault Evictions
(Chesham and Amersham) (LD)
1. When he plans to end section 21 no-fault evictions.
(902291)
(Bath) (LD)
21. When he plans to end section 21 no-fault evictions.
(902312)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
On behalf of the Department, I would like to wish every good luck
to the England and Wales football teams. I have just heard the
latest update, and I understand that England are leading 4-0.
In line with the Conservative manifesto, we remain fully
committed to ending section 21 to ensure that renters feel secure
in their homes and are empowered to challenge poor standards and
unjustified rent increases. That is rightly a priority for the
Government and we will bring forward legislation during this
Parliament.
I thank the Minister for her response and echo her good wishes
for the England and Wales football teams.
Three years ago, the Government pledged to ban section 21
no-fault evictions and it is good to hear that they are committed
to doing so. During this time, YouGov estimates that 227,000
people in England have been served such notices. I recently spoke
to representatives from a local homelessness charity who were
concerned about the rising demand for their homelessness
prevention service. May I push the Minister a little further and
ask her to confirm when in this Parliament the Government will
put an end to no-fault evictions and what additional support will
they be providing to those working to end homelessness?
We are committed to taking forward this legislation, which is why
we published the White Paper in June. Our consultation on the
decent homes standard concluded on 14 October and we are
currently evaluating the responses to it. We will introduce the
legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. I want to give
the hon. Lady a personal commitment: I am very focused on the
private rental sector and the issues in it, and I am determined
that we will reduce the number of non-decent homes in that
sector.
In asking my question, I refer Members to my entry in the
Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
The tragic death of Awaab Ishak has highlighted the deadly
consequences of poor-quality housing. Many tenants in the private
sector face similar if not worse problems with damp and mould,
but do not dare to speak up due to fear of being evicted. Is it
not high time that the private rental sector is also more tightly
regulated and that the tighter inspection regime and penalties
that the Secretary of State announced last week should apply to
that sector, too?
I wish to give all my condolences to the family of Awaab.
Clearly, it is simply unacceptable in today’s world that a young
boy can die in that way. I am committed, as I have said, to
implementing a decent homes standard and to making sure that the
enforcement of it is strict.
(Christchurch) (Con)
How will abolishing section 21 increase the supply of rented
housing?
We are looking to abolish section 21 at the same time as we
strengthen the grounds for landlords to take possession of their
properties if they have a good reason to do so—that could be
because of antisocial behaviour, rent arrears, or needing to sell
the property. The two go in tandem, but it is absolutely
imperative that we go ahead with the abolition of section 21.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Liverpool, Wavertree)
(Lab)
Later this week, the Department is scheduled to release stats for
the second quarter of the year on section 21 evictions. The
emerging picture is clear: section 21 evictions are going up. We
saw a 26% increase during the first quarter of this year. We are
now three years down the track from the publication of the 2019
Conservative manifesto promising to end section 21. I note that
the Minister has committed today to ending section 21 in this
Parliament, but may I push further and urge the Department to
commit to bringing forward emergency legislation early in the new
year to end this scandal, working with the Opposition to do so?
Will those on the Government Benches accept that, through their
inaction, the Department is leaving tenants vulnerable to
eviction in the meantime?
As I have said, we are committed to abolishing section 21 in this
Parliament at the earliest opportunity.
Land Banking
(Bosworth) (Con)
2. What steps his Department is taking to tackle land banking by
property developers and encourage development. (902292)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
Too often, planning permission is granted and building work
simply does not start. Through the Levelling up and Regeneration
Bill that is currently going through the House, developers will
be required to notify local authorities when development starts,
and existing powers to serve completion notices will be
streamlined. Last week we went even further and tabled amendments
to ensure that housing developers will now have to report
annually on delivery, and local authorities will have the power
to decline to determine applications made by developers who fail
to build out at a reasonable rate earlier on the same land.
Dr Evans
I am grateful for the Minister’s answer. This issue is important
for areas such as mine, where we do not have an up-to-date local
plan because the Lib Dem borough council has not sorted it. That
leads to a vulnerability in our community to speculative
development. Coupling that with the duty to co-operate with
Leicester city, which is not building up and out either, results
in huge amounts of pressure on our countryside and green spaces.
What does the Minister suggest can solve this problem? Will it
come forward in the new legislation?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the need for
local areas to build on brownfield sites. In Leicester, the 35%
uplift applies, meaning that as an urban area they ought to be
building more. Where an authority is demonstrably unable to meet
the needs in full, there remains a duty to co-operate. The
Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill recognises that the duty to
co-operate is too stringent a test. The duty will be abolished
and replaced by more flexible policy requirements.
Local Service Delivery
(Halesowen and Rowley Regis)
(Con)
3. What steps his Department is taking to provide (a) tools and
(b) funding to help local leaders deliver services. (902293)
(Aylesbury) (Con)
5. What steps his Department is taking to provide (a) tools and
(b) funding to help local leaders deliver services. (902296)
(Clwyd South) (Con)
11. What steps his Department is taking to provide (a) tools and
(b) funding to help local leaders deliver services. (902302)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The Government hugely value the work of local authorities and
make significant taxpayer subsidy available to ensure that the
work they do is successful. Last week, my right hon. Friend the
Chancellor confirmed that additional funding will be made
available for local government in 2023-24, particularly with
regard to adult social care, where we know there are
pressures.
The Conservative party 2019 manifesto said that we would seek
to
“level up…across the whole United Kingdom.”
It went on to say:
“In the 21st century, we need to get away from the idea that
‘Whitehall knows best’…Because we as Conservatives believe you
can and must trust people and communities to make the decisions
that are right for them.”
Does the Minister agree that now is the time for us to take
action on levelling up in places such as Halesowen and Rowley
Regis, where communities are crying out for the prioritisation of
projects across my constituency? The time has come to stop
talking about levelling up and to take action. We need action
this day.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right that levelling up is hugely
important not just for communities in the west midlands but for
those all across the country, both in areas traditionally
labelled as levelling-up areas and in those with high needs and
high deprivation throughout the country as a whole. He is a huge
advocate for the work that is being done across the west midlands
and in his constituency. I know that it will be successful both
there and wherever else we can do something across the
country.
Buckinghamshire Council successfully secured £170 million from
the housing infrastructure fund in 2020, to enable the delivery
of Aylesbury’s long-awaited and much needed link roads programme.
It was met by much celebration locally, as the town has suffered
traffic gridlock during rush hour for many years. With the costs
of construction materials spiralling, it is essential that these
roads are built as soon as possible. Will my hon. Friend work
with me and the council to help us get a little bit of necessary
flexibility on the precise way that the funding is deployed, to
ensure that this vital new infrastructure is completed?
The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that
infrastructure is in place at the right time. My hon. Friend has
worked incredibly hard in in this place in the period he has been
here to make clear that the traffic challenges in Aylesbury are
because of pressure from new housing, hence this grant. My hon.
Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon.
Member for North West Durham (Mr Holden), who is responsible for
this area, and I are happy discuss this issue further with him to
help his constituency.
In Clwyd South, Wrexham and Denbighshire councils are
enthusiastically embracing the opportunities provided by UK
Government funding, including the councils’ central role in
ensuring the success of the Clwyd South £13.3 million
levelling-up fund bid. Can the Minister ensure that future UK
Government funding always contains provision for councils to grow
further their own project management skills and resources?
My hon. Friend makes an important point about capacity within
local government and the opportunities this Government are making
available for local councils to make decisions on how to make
their area better over the long term. I know he is a huge
champion of his area and I wish him every success in those
applications.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee.
(Sheffield South East)
(Lab)
The Local Government Association has calculated that councils are
facing extra inflation costs of £2.5 billion this year and extra
costs of £3.5 billion next year. If we look at the autumn
statement, apart from social care there was no mention of any
extra money whatsoever for local government. All that will come
is a potential £0.6 billion if councils put up their council
taxes by the 3%, aside from the social care precept. Surely £3.5
billion versus £0.6 billion means significant cuts to council
services or the prospect, as the LGA has said, of some councils
going bankrupt next year?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who brings a huge amount of
experience from his Select Committee perspective, but the
combination of what the Government have offered, which is a
substantial increase in funds from the financial year 2023-24,
plus a recognition that local councils can make decisions about
their council tax bases, plus the usual efficiency savings that
every large organisation should be making—[Interruption.] The
Labour party seems to have a problem with local councils being as
effective and efficient as they can, but I know most councils
will respond to that challenge as they see fit.
(Worsley and Eccles South)
(Lab)
The Local Government Association has said that,
“Council Tax has never been the solution to meeting the long-term
pressures facing services, particularly high-demand services like
adult social care, child protection and homelessness prevention.
It also raises different amounts of money in different parts of
the country unrelated to need”.
Salford is the 18th most deprived local authority in the country.
Increasing council tax and the levy by 5% is the equivalent of
1.8% of spending on public services there, whereas in Surrey an
increase of 5% is equivalent to 3.1% of that spending. How will
Salford pay for the high-demand services it needs when raising
council tax seems to be the Government’s favoured solution to
local government funding needs?
One of the services the hon. Lady highlights as being under
pressure is adult social care. As the Member for Sheffield South
East (Mr Betts) indicated, there is additional money going into
adult social care—[Interruption.] The hon. Lady shakes her head,
but it is absolutely the case that there is additional money
going in. While acknowledging and understanding the principle and
the underlying point that she is making, I struggle with the
concept that local tax bases are not important within this
discussion. They obviously are and they obviously should make a
contribution. It is about trying to find a balance, and part of
that balance is providing a lot of additional funds for next
year, as we have done through last Thursday’s announcements.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
I invite the Minister to come to Bristol to sit down and talk to
the council about what it has done over the years to try to
ensure it can deliver services. We now face an £87.6 million
shortfall over the next five years. We have done absolutely all
we can in terms of efficiency savings. Will he come to Bristol to
sit down with us and see what the true picture is on the
ground?
I was going through Bristol’s documentation on the council
website only yesterday; I am happy to talk to any local council
to understand the pressures and challenges it faces and the
concerns it has. By the same token, however, while local
government does a hugely valuable job, one part of that valuable
job has to be to ensure that it is providing the most efficient
and effective services for ratepayers over the long term.
(South Leicestershire)
(Con)
Being able to raise council tax is a very welcome measure in the
autumn statement. Leicestershire County Council is the
lowest-funded upper-tier authority in England. Will the Minister
meet me and representatives of the council to discuss its fairer
funding situation?
My hon. Friends from Leicestershire have made that case
repeatedly, and as a fellow east midlands MP, I understand the
concerns about the challenges that individual councils face. I
have already been in a meeting with representatives from
Leicestershire County Council, who made their points known, and I
would be happy to talk to my hon. Friend further about this
matter.
(Batley and Spen) (Lab)
I was pleased to submit a levelling-up bid earlier this year to
transform Batley town centre. The proposal would create new
shopping and leisure opportunities, support local businesses,
attract new investment and reduce dangerous driving and parking
through modernisation and pedestrianisation. I know the Secretary
of State understands the importance of this bid to Batley, and I
thank him for agreeing to visit the town centre with me in the
near future. Does the Minister agree that long-overdue Government
support is now more vital than ever, given the severe impact of
inflation and rising costs on already overstretched local
authority budgets?
I congratulate the hon. Lady on making the case for that
important campaign and the important changes that she wants. We
can already see a successful delivery of levelling-up funds and
town funds all across the country. I know that further
applications are coming forward, and I hope that they are
successful and can make the most of the money as quickly as
possible.
(Great Grimsby) (Con)
I am delighted to see the Secretary of State back in his
Department, where I had a very brief summer job this year. I know
that he is passionate about making sure that we can get councils
where we need them for our funding. As he knows, Great Grimsby
secured the first town deal, and we have also had future high
streets funding, but we have had some of it for two and a half
years now and things are not happening quickly enough on the
ground. Will he commit to coming back to Grimsby to make sure we
can push the council forward to get things happening on the
ground?
My hon. Friend’s constituency is an excellent example of the
transformation that is happening as a result of the support that
the Department is giving. Although I cannot speak for my right
hon. Friend the Secretary of State, I am sure that one of us will
be very happy to come to Great Grimsby to support the work that
she is doing.
(Aberdeen South) (SNP)
The Minister and the Secretary of State will be familiar with the
fact that council leaders in Aberdeen are fairly supportive of
the north-east of Scotland’s green freeport bid. Yet despite the
bid being launched five months ago, we have had no decision
whatever from the UK Government and, indeed, no indication of
when that decision will be taken. Can the Minister provide
clarity on that, and if he is unable to do so, will he and the
Secretary of State meet me to discuss it?
We know that freeports have the opportunity to be transformative
for many areas that are ultimately successful in their bids. We
know that so many places, including those in Scotland, are
looking forward to taking part in UK Government-led activities
such as this. The hon. Gentleman has made a strong case for the
north-east of Scotland, and I wish him well. We will make
announcements in due course.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Luton North) (Lab)
Before the Chancellor’s statement, the Conservative leaders of
Kent County Council and Hampshire County Council wrote to the
Prime Minister warning of their likely bankruptcy. Instead of
hearing the concerns of local leaders across the country, the
Government passed on responsibility to them by forcing councils
to raise tax. Not only is that another unfair burden on the
British taxpayer, but local government experts have estimated
that the Tory plans to raise council tax will bring in more than
£80 per household in Surrey but only £39 per household in
Manchester and Hull. That sounds dangerously like another Tory
failure in the making on levelling up. Does the Minister truly
understand the financial emergency facing councils today? If so,
how can he justify local residents and businesses having their
council tax raised while the Government allow non-doms to avoid
paying between £1 billion and £3 billion-worth of tax?
The hon. Lady highlights a number of things that she obviously
wants to make a point about. The reality is that billions and
billions of additional taxpayer subsidy was made available within
the settlement last week. We will come forward with further
information in due course. Ultimately, the Labour party’s
position is fundamentally that there can be no contribution from
local taxpayers. That is a very interesting place to be given
that there ultimately has to be a link between services and
taxation. That is something that the Government recognise while
still providing billions in taxpayer subsidy from the centre to
improve lives and services in the long run.
Regional Inequality
Dame (Wallasey) (Lab)
4. What recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of
the potential impact of increases in (a) interest rates and (b)
inflation on regional inequality.(902294)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
It is because we are concerned about the impact of inflation and
increases in interest rates that this autumn statement protected
the most vulnerable by uprating benefits and pensions with
inflation, strengthening the energy price guarantee, and
providing cost of living payments.
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I would also like to update the
House on the score in Qatar: it is now 5-1 to England. I feel it
is appropriate for me to do this because the hon. Member for
Nottingham North () has been providing a running
commentary on the answers being given from the Treasury Bench, so
it is only fair that we provide a running commentary that the
country actually wants to hear.
Mr Speaker
Excuse me! Secretary of State, I thought you were in charge of
levelling up—it doesn’t look that way with that score!
Dame
I would have informed the House of that, had the Secretary of
State not got there before me. After promising to match EU
structural funds in the Government’s manifesto, and then taking
£1 billion a year out of them for the replacement shared
prosperity fund, how can the Secretary of State claim to be
levelling up when his Government have presided over a net loss in
funding across the country, including in the north-west, which
stands to lose £206 million under the shared prosperity fund,
which the Government have failed even to inflation-proof?
It is not just the UK shared prosperity fund, but the
levelling-up fund that has seen money go to not just Liverpool
city region, but all those areas we are targeting that have been
overlooked and undervalued in the past. Specifically, the UK
shared prosperity fund has provided £52 million for the Liverpool
city region—money that I know will be well invested by and others.
(Lichfield) (Con)
May I pay tribute to the Iranian team, who refused to sing their
national anthem, which was very brave of them?
In areas such as Lichfield, which have very high property prices,
people who hold mortgages will also be affected by high interest
rates. Although Lichfield is generally regarded as an area to
which others might wish to level up to, we do have areas of
deprivation. For that reason, may I urge my right hon. Friend to
look at our levelling-up bid because it is desperately needed for
Lichfield’s people—not those in expensive houses, but those who
are in more difficult positions?
Lichfield is the jewel of Staffordshire, but even the most
glittering jewels sometimes have flaws and, as a rough diamond
himself, I know that my hon. Friend will appreciate that. I
recognise that there is a need to help all those parts of the
United Kingdom and the west midlands where, even though there may
be prosperity, there is inequality that needs to be
addressed.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State, .
(Wigan) (Lab)
I welcome the update on the football scores; it foreshadows what
we intend to do to the Government side at the next general
election. The truth is, before they crashed the economy, they
were already struggling. Twelve months; 12 directors not in post;
12 missions going backwards. Only a third of the levelling-up
funds has been allocated, and after wasting our time with the
short-lived investment zones, the second round is months behind
schedule. According to a circular, a local planning department
performing at this level would have been put into special
measures by now, by the Secretary of State. Can we bring some
sense to this madness, end the “Hunger Games”-style competition,
and allow all our communities—not just his favourites—to decide
how their own money is spent?
I welcome the questions from the Marcus Rashford of the Labour
party—the person coming on at the last minute may actually change
the fortunes of the team for the better, who knows? I wish the
hon. Lady good luck in all future penalty shoot-outs. If it is
“The Hunger Games” we are talking about, it is the Labour party
leadership contest that is closer to that than any other contest
in this House. On the substantive point that she makes, it is
important that we look at how we fund local government overall.
There of course needs to be competitive funding to make sure we
can learn from the best, but we need to look at formula funding
as well, and we shall.
I am more than happy to be compared to Marcus Rashford, feeding
our kids when the Government let them go starving hungry. We have
almost as many funding pots in the Secretary of State’s
Department as we have had Ministers in the past 12 months. Can he
not see the problem? We both know that the only way out of this
crisis is to get local and regional economies growing, so how can
it be that the key Department responsible for that was the
biggest loser in last week’s autumn statement? It makes no sense,
unless the Government have collectively decided to abandon
attempts to level up our regional economies. Can he clarify this
for the House: when they came for his budget, was he just ignored
by the Chancellor, or did he not put up any fight at all?
The autumn statement was at a time of challenging news for the
global economy. It was absolutely the right response and, again,
not only did we secure a significant, record increase in funding
for local government at the previous spending review, but we, as
my hon. Friend the Member for North East Derbyshire () pointed out, secured billions additionally for adult
social care and for children’s services. Once more, local
government is securing the funding it needs under a Conservative
Government who are putting stability and growth first.
Mixed-use Development
(Boston and Skegness)
(Con)
6. What steps he is taking to support mixed-use developments.
(902297)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
We cannot have houses without services and infrastructure. The
national planning policy framework recognises the need for
mixed-use developments, including local facilities and transport
networks. In addition, the national design guide and national
model design recognise the importance of mixed-use development in
creating sustainable, active and vibrant places.
The Skegness Gateway project is a 1,000-home development, but it
is also home—thanks to the levelling-up fund—to a new college for
Skegness and, if all goes well, it could be a significant boon to
local NHS services. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the
huge contribution of the Sanderson family, some of whom are in
the Gallery? Will she also join me in welcoming the prospect of
Departments working together, breaking down the silos to deliver
the maximum possible potential for such projects all in one hit
and at the first opportunity?
I echo my hon. Friend’s praise of the Sanderson family and their
commitment to the local area, and I welcome them to the House of
Commons today. I am delighted that Government funds are helping
Skegness thrive. I know that officials in the Department for
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and other Departments
continue to work closely with local partners to ensure that, as
the Skegness town deal programme enters its important next phase,
the vision for the new local college that he mentions and the
wider gateway can be realised.
Homes for Older People
(Harrow East) (Con)
7. What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Health
and Social Care to increase the supply of homes for older people
including housing-with-care. (902298)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
I know that my hon. Friend has considerable expertise in this
area as a member of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Committee. As our population ages, we are committed to increasing
the supply of specialist elderly accommodation, including
housing-with-care. We work closely with the Department of Health
and Social Care to incentivise supply through capital funding,
such as through the affordable homes programme. We have also
announced an older persons housing taskforce to examine this area
and I hope to have more details of that in due course.
I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for her answer and
welcome her to the Dispatch Box in her new role. The “Levelling
Up” White Paper, released in February, promised this taskforce to
build more homes for people who need care. I wonder when we will
see it come into operation and start the important work of
providing that accommodation.
As a new Minister in post, I wish to reassure my hon. Friend that
I am committed to taking forward the taskforce and I have already
spoken to the Minister for Care about re-establishing it.
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
One of the stated aims of levelling up is to
“restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging”.
Barnsley does not lack pride or community—we lack resources.
After slashing 40% of our council’s budget, rejecting two
levelling-up bids and now backing a Budget that places a heavy
burden on councils, what are the Government doing to make sure
that levelling up delivers a genuine economic boost to areas such
as Barnsley?
I am sorry that Barnsley has not been successful in its
levelling-up fund bids, but of course a variety of schemes have
been put forward to improve local areas. Those are not finished
and I wish her area every success in future bids.
Levelling-up Agenda
(Paisley and Renfrewshire
North) (SNP)
8. What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in
the devolved Administrations on the potential impacts of (a)
levels of Government spending and (b) the cost of living on the
levelling-up agenda. (902299)
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
(SNP)
24. What recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in
the devolved Administrations on the potential impacts of (a)
levels of Government spending and (b) the cost of living on the
levelling-up agenda. (902315)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
Ministers meet their counterparts in the devolved Administrations
regularly, and on 10 November the Prime Minister and First
Ministers met in Blackpool to discuss the economic outlook and
working together on the cost of living. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer joined that meeting virtually. The Chief Secretary to
the Treasury met with Finance Ministers in the context of the
autumn statement, and officials in all Departments remain in
constant contact in the interests of all of the people across
these islands.
This Government like to talk levelling up, but implementation
delays have robbed poorer areas of £1.5 billion, with an
additional £0.5 billion lost due to spiralling inflation. The
Tories de-industrialised west central Scotland in the 1980s. We
are bringing it back with the advanced manufacturing innovation
district, including the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
and the medicines manufacturing innovation centre in my
constituency. When might we hear that this Government will play
their part by ensuring that the stand-out Clyde Green freeport
bid and the Renfrew community hub levelling-up bid will be
successful?
We will announce shortly the details of levelling-up bids and
freeport bids. But when it comes to delays in implementation and
the industrial investment that the west of Scotland needs, I
simply and gently draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the
divergence between a UK Government who have recently delivered
six new warships on the Clyde and the Scottish Government who in
the meantime could not even finish painting the windows on a
ferry.
We are supposed to be eternally grateful for the £1.5 billion of
Barnett consequentials over two years, but that is easily dwarfed
by the £1.7 billion of inflationary pressures on the Scottish
budget this year. When the Secretary of State discussed with the
Scottish Government Scotland’s needs, such as the need to cover
that £1.7 billion inflation cut, the additional money for pay and
their other spending priorities, did he just ignore what they
were saying?
No, we never ignore what the Scottish Government are saying. We
have fruitful relationships with Ministers in not just the
Scottish but the Welsh Government. I gently point out to the hon.
Gentleman that, although he rightly acknowledges the Barnett
consequentials—the Union dividend—that the Treasury pays to the
people of Scotland, when he talks about inflation, he does not
acknowledge that, if we were to follow the Scottish National
party’s approach to a separate currency for an independent
Scotland, we would see a flight of capital, massive interest rate
increases and galloping inflation there. There would be no worse
consequence for working people in Scotland than the currency
folly that his colleagues put forward.
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
I am delighted to support the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s
£17 million levelling-up bid, which includes excellent
representation from the Holyhead Town Council, Môn CF, the
Ucheldre Centre and the Church of Wales. Does the Secretary of
State agree that the levelling-up fund can transform places such
as Holyhead? Can we have an update on timing? Will he accept my
invitation to see first-hand how transformational the fund could
be to Holyhead?
Yes. Every time I visit Wales, I am continually impressed by the
superb advocacy that Conservative MPs bring to bear for their
communities, not least in Ynys Môn. I look forward to making that
visit, I hope, early in the new year after the levelling-up fund
bids will have been confirmed.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson, .
(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP)
It has been quite something to listen to hon. Members on both
sides of the House arguing for more powers for councils in
England while they conspire to prevent powers for the Scottish
Parliament—they are better together. After several tumultuous and
wasted months while the Tories fought with each other as
households struggled, I welcome the Secretary of State back to
his place. During the autumn statement, levelling up did not
merit a single mention, yet we are told that it is the
Government’s flagship policy. With deeper austerity cuts slated
for after the next election, the future of the levelling-up
agenda is more in doubt than ever. Does he agree that levelling
up requires a long-term commitment and that a levelling-up agenda
cannot credibly survive the planned Tory austerity on stilts?
The hon. Lady knows that I have enormous affection for her. As
one of the first and most effective advocates for levelling-up
funding going to her constituency, alongside the Holyrood
representative for that constituency, I look forward to working
with her and her colleagues to make sure that the levelling-up
fund bids from Scottish authorities, which are enthusiastically
supported by many SNP colleagues, are delivered on time. It is
wonderful to see so many people in the Scottish National party
arguing for more UK Government spending in their
constituencies—long may it be so.
Despite what we have just heard, the Office for Budget
Responsibility estimates that there will be a 7.1% fall in
real-terms wages over the next two years in the sharpest fall in
living standards since the second world war. That is before the
Government implement their new rocket-charged austerity agenda,
which will reduce living standards significantly more—so much for
levelling up. With Scotland short-changed and suffering from a
Brexit-inflated recession as part of broken Britain, can the
Secretary of State explain if that is why the Government are
reduced to seeking to deny democracy to Scotland, because Scots
now know that, with all the powers of an independent country, we
could do better?
It is certainly the case that there are many talented politicians
in the Scottish Government and on the SNP Benches, including the
hon. Lady. I gently point out, however, that in England, there
has been a devolution of powers to local government, and there
has been cross-party consensus between Labour and the
Conservatives that we should have that. Sadly, while the Scottish
Government have been in power, we have seen no similar devolution
of powers to local authorities in Scotland; quite the opposite:
we have seen centralisation, with business rates hitting the
north-east of Scotland and Police Scotland centralising powers in
a way that goes against the spirit of trusting local people. I
know from the many conversations I have with people in the
north-east, the highlands, the islands and the Borders, that they
wish to change the central belt centralisation of the Scottish
Government—and I know that she agrees.
Levelling-up Fund
(Easington) (Lab)
10. When he plans to announce the successful bids from the
levelling-up fund round 2.(902301)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
As the Chancellor set out in his autumn statement, the Government
remain committed to the levelling-up fund and will allocate at
least £1.7 billion in the next round to priority infrastructure
projects that improve everyday life for residents across the UK.
I look forward to announcing the outcome of round 2 before the
end of the year.
I thank the Minister for that response, and I welcome the
Secretary of State and his ministerial team to their new roles
after a three-month hiatus. While we have had the merry-go-round
of a revolving door, with Ministers changing and, indeed, Prime
Ministers changing, communities such as mine in Horden in the
Easington constituency are being starved of investment. We need
the Secretary of State and his Ministers to approve our bid so we
can address some of the serious issues, including the poor
standard of the private sector housing in Horden. It would be
marvellous if the Minister could give a date and ensure levelling
up remains a Government priority by approving the Easington bid
sooner rather than later.
The hon. Member will know that at this stage I cannot comment on
the merits of individual bids, but I know how passionately he
campaigns for his own constituency and for County Durham from
meetings that we have locally, and he will be informed of the
outcome in due course.
(Hazel Grove) (Con)
Could I use this opportunity to make a shameless plug for the
Marple active communities hub, which in round 2 must surely be
among the strongest applications in my hon. Friend the Minister’s
in-tray? Does she agree that it is high time we put health and
wellbeing at the heart of levelling up, and her approving this
bid, in a totally transparent process, which I know it is, would
be just the ticket?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising his bid. Again, I
cannot comment at this stage on the merits of individual bids,
but I am certainly happy to engage with him further on this. I
know what a great champion he is for Hazel Grove, and I know he
will continue to push for every levelling-up opportunity for his
constituents.
(Inverclyde) (SNP)
I have heard “shortly” and I have heard “sometime before
Christmas”, so I am thinking maybe there is a date in Ministers’
minds here, and I would be grateful if we could have a share of
this. In Inverclyde, local government money and Scottish
Government money work hand in glove with us to improve the area.
We need to know when so that local stakeholders can be involved
in this decision process and take the whole thing forward.
Briefly, I say to the Secretary of State that earlier he made a
slur on my constituency and the good workforce of Ferguson
Marine. If he wants to come to Ferguson Marine with me, and stand
toe to toe and make that same remark, I will hold his jacket.
I am grateful to the hon. Member for his question, and looking at
the Secretary of State I think that point was heard loud and
clear.
The hon. Member will know that, in round 1 of the levelling-up
fund, the amount that went to Scotland was above the Barnett
formula calculations. Round 2 will be coming in due course and I
am sure that many people across this House who have been so
involved in their bids will have an incredibly happy
Christmas.
(Norwich North) (Con)
In Mile Cross in my constituency, healthy life expectancy is
below the national average, children’s social mobility is in the
bottom 10% of the country, per capita rates of violent crime are
double the national average and claims to universal credit are
also double the national average. Will the Minister and the
Secretary of State throw their support behind the bid in my
constituency to improve community facilities around Sloughbottom
park to help people on all those counts?
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for her passion in
campaigning for her constituents. Again, at this stage, I cannot
comment on the merits of individual bids, but she is a great,
passionate advocate for her constituency and we will be
announcing the results of levelling-up fund round 2 in due
course.
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
Barnsley town centre is thriving. That is as a result of hard
work locally, but also powered by our belief not in a handout but
in a hand-up. To that end, can I commend the Barnsley Central
levelling-up fund bid to the Minister? It is an excellent piece
of work that would make a huge difference to my constituents. I
very much hope that the Government will be able to support
it.
I am very grateful to the hon. Member for his pitch. I was in
Barnsley a few months ago—an area very close to where I grew
up—and I did have some local people making their own
representations on the importance of this particular fund. At
this stage I cannot comment on the merits of individual bids, but
I heard loud and clear his pitch, and we will be announcing the
result in due course.
(North West Hampshire) (Con)
Will the Minister please confirm as she moves towards the award
of these moneys, that she has sharply in her mind the fact that
hidden among the averages of the otherwise prosperous south-east,
there are some serious pockets of deprivation, not least in those
London overspill towns that still ring the capital? Those include
Andover in my constituency, which as well as importing an
unfortunate number of Arsenal supporters, also brought with it a
number of social and demographic problems with which the town
still struggles, and towards which the grant award could
significantly assist.
I had best keep my comments about Arsenal to myself in this
House, but my right hon. Friend is right: levelling up is not
something that can be simplified purely by region or by north and
south, and there are pockets all over the country that need to
benefit from funds such as the levelling-up fund. I know how much
of a passionate advocate he is for the Andover bid, and we will
be announcing the result in due course.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister, .
(Nottingham North)
(Lab/Co-op)
The autumn statement confirmed that round two of the levelling-up
fund is to be frozen in cash terms, meaning that the Government’s
inflation crisis has significantly eroded the value of the fund
in real terms. The Government must now either reduce the quality
and scope of the winning bids, or accept fewer bids—which will it
be?
This is an incredibly difficult time for economies across the
world, based on global factors—[Interruption.] Right across the
world, based on global factors. We are working with local
authorities to see how we can help support them to ensure that
they deliver their bids to the maximum potential. We have made
adjustments to the project adjustment request process, to make it
easier for local authorities to take that autonomy and make
decisions about what is right for their community.
Topical Questions
(East Devon) (Con)
T2. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(902317)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
The House will, of course, be aware that following the tragic
death of Awaab Ishak, the chief executive of Rochdale Boroughwide
Housing stood down at the weekend, but there is still so much
more to do to ensure that the lessons from that tragedy are
learned. I have written to local authorities and registered
social landlords, to ensure that the dangers of damp and mould
are at the front of all our minds, and further action will be
taken in due course.
Colleagues across the House are eagerly awaiting the results of
the latest round of the levelling-up fund, and I obviously want
to draw the attention of my right hon. Friend to Devon County
Council’s bid to cut congestion in Exmouth. Does he agree that
levelling up must make a real difference in every region,
including mine in the south-west?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his passionate plea. As a
former Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department —and a
very successful one, if I may say so—he will know that at this
stage I cannot comment on individual bids. I am delighted that
Devon County Council has put in a bid to the levelling-up fund,
and we will be announcing the results of that bidding process in
due course.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister, .
(Greenwich and Woolwich)
(Lab)
It is almost five and a half years since the horror of Grenfell,
yet the building safety crisis remains unresolved for the vast
majority of affected leaseholders. Will the Secretary of State
tell the House when the overdue developer remediation contract
will be published? When will Ministers finally resolve the
problems relating to mortgages and buildings insurance, and when
will those leaseholders who are currently excluded from
protections learn whether their Government intend to help or
abandon them?
Across the House there is a determination to ensure that the
terrible tragedy of Grenfell is met with appropriate steps, both
legislatively and in regulatory terms, and also that those who
are trapped in buildings through no fault of their own are given
the opportunity to move on with their lives. We will shortly be
publishing the details of those contracts. We are meeting lenders
to discuss moving away from the situation in which so many people
have found themselves, and we are also talking to the insurance
industry about the steps we need to take.
(Ashford) (Con)
T3. In the care White Paper the Government committed to investing
£300 million in supported housing for people with long-term
health conditions, the numbers of whom are likely to go up by
125,000 this decade. In the wake of the autumn statement, will
the Secretary of State assure me that that money is still
available?(902318)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The Government remain committed to our 10-year vision for the
reform of adult social care, and we are taking forward proposals
in the “People at the Heart of Care” White Paper. As my right
hon. Friend will appreciate, following last Thursday’s fiscal
statement, Departments are reviewing specific spending plans, and
details will be announced in due course.
(Leeds East) (Lab)
T8. Tory austerity has hit councils hard. Under the Tory
Government, Leeds City Council has been hit by cuts of £2
billion, which is money needed for key local services. Would not
another round of austerity be an act of Government vandalism
punishing the poorest areas in our country?(902323)
No.
(Harrow East) (Con)
T5. I thank my hon. Friend for her support on Friday in the
debate on my private Member’s Bill. Has she seen in today’s
Inside Housing that last year exempt accommodation cost 174 of
333 councils a staggering £883.5 million, with 100 authorities
who provide it not reporting anything? Given that huge amounts of
money are going out the door—potentially to rogue landlords—will
she commit to closing the loophole as fast as
possible?(902320)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his Bill passing its Second
Reading on Friday. This is clearly an important sector and there
is no question that we need to put in place the licensing regime,
on which I made a commitment that we would lay regulations within
18 months. However, it is critical that the taxpayer gets good
value for money.
(Rochdale) (Lab)
I strongly welcome the Secretary of State’s letter to local
authorities over the weekend. It is right and proper that mould
should be seen as a serious hazard to health. Does he agree that
we also need regulatory powers, with resources to allow local
government to implement those powers? Without that, we are simply
using words and not action.
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. We do place
responsibilities on local authorities—the letter reinforces
that—but they do need to be appropriately resourced. I look
forward to working with them to ensure that the personnel and
resources are there to keep everyone safe.
(Christchurch) (Con)
T6. May I ask the Secretary of State direct how he believes it is
either compassionate or conservative to be increasing council tax
poverty? What message does he have for thousands of households in
Dorset who next year will have to pay more than £90 every week in
council tax as a direct result of his failure to reform the grant
funding system?(902321)
I say to my hon. Friend, who is a brilliant advocate for his
constituents, that we face a need for economy across the board
and, funnily enough, as Opposition MPs have reminded us, the
council tax base is often broader in areas that are relatively
more prosperous such as those that he represents. Of course, I
recognise the strains and pressures faced by his constituents.
However, at a time when belts are having to be tightened
everywhere, although it is a terrible thing to say, I actually
feel sorrier for some people not in Christchurch but in other
parts of the country because the relatively wealthy and the
relatively older in our country already have it relatively
better.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
Since I met the Secretary of State, the pace of short-term
holiday lets in my constituency has exploded, with the flipping
of private rented homes and the hoovering up of homes to purchase
meaning that people in my constituency have nowhere to live. When
will he bring forward legislation to license short-term holiday
lets? Will he support my private Member’s Bill, which aims to do
that?
The hon. Lady raises an important issue also raised by Members
from North Devon, North Norfolk and elsewhere. Through the
Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill and other measures, in
co-operation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport, we are looking at what we can do to alleviate some of the
pressures that her constituents and others face.
(Erewash) (Con)
T7. Our precious green belt should never be prioritised over
brownfield sites. However, local authorities are coming under
increasing pressure to include green belt in their core
strategies because of unfair housing targets. Will my right hon.
and learned Friend help councils to better implement a
“brownfield first” policy by reforming the formula used to set
housing targets? Will she meet me and representatives from
Erewash Borough Council to discuss the matter
further?(902322)
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities ()
We are absolutely committed to making the most of brownfield
land. In fact, the national planning policy framework sets out
that planning policies and decisions should give substantial
weight to the value of using suitable brownfield land in
settlements and should prioritise that. I am happy to meet my
hon. Friend to discuss that.
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
The Secretary of State is well aware of Bell Building Projects
and the work it is doing to remove cladding across these islands.
What representations has he made to Homes England, which is
taking four to five months to pay the invoices of this company
and other contractors?
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. Organisations in the
private sector, such as the one in his constituency, are
contributing to dealing with the building safety crisis. It is
the responsibility of Homes England and indeed my Department to
make sure that small and medium-sized enterprises that are making
a contribution are promptly paid. I have raised the issue with
Homes England and in the Department, and I hope that prompt
payment will follow. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for
speaking up for small business in his constituency.
(Mole Valley) (Con)
T9. Will my right hon. Friend take steps to ensure that
green-belt sites set aside for housing in local council draft
plans are removed prior to plan adoption?(902324)
The national planning policy framework is clear that a local
authority should not propose to alter a green-belt boundary
unless there are exceptional circumstances and it can show at
examination of the local plan that it has explored every other
reasonable option. Any proposal to release land from green belt
is subject to rigorous examination by the planning inspector, who
is independent and who acts on behalf of the Secretary of
State.
(St Albans) (LD)
Taxpayers in St Albans district are shelling out £3 million a
year to subsidise big developers because the Government’s cap on
planning fees prevents my local councils from charging the full
amount for processing a big application, and last week I tabled
the presentation Bill to scrap that cap. Given the enormous
pressures on household budgets, will the Secretary of State meet
me to discuss how we can urgently address this issue, perhaps
through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill?
I sympathise with the position in which the hon. Lady’s
constituents find themselves, We can certainly do more to ensure
that developers pay their way when dealing with applications of
this kind. One of my colleagues would happily meet her.
Dame (South Northamptonshire)
(Con)
There is overwhelming evidence that the building blocks for
lifelong emotional and physical wellbeing are laid down during
the first 1,001 days of human life. Does my right hon. Friend
agree that supporting that is the best piece of levelling up we
could possibly do? What more can he do to ensure that family hubs
and joined-up start for life services are rolled out right across
England as soon as possible?
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and her impassioned
advocacy of better support for children and families in the first
1,001 days of a child’s life has helped to shape Government
policy. The wider roll-out of family hubs, support for children’s
services and, in particular, targeted intervention when children
are at risk of abuse or neglect will, when taken together, help
to ensure that we level up opportunities across this country. I
am grateful to my right hon. Friend for all her work on this
issue.
(North Down) (Alliance)
European social fund projects in Northern Ireland face a
financial cliff edge. Over 1,000 jobs are at risk and over 17,000
service users fear for their future. Can the Secretary of State
give me an assurance that there will be an investment plan and a
process in place to give those organisations the chance to apply
for shared prosperity fund support ahead of next April?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue, and I
will work with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to
make sure that there is an investment plan in place.
(Cheadle) (Con)
The renters reform Bill will make private tenancy arrangements
fit for the 21st century. Will my right hon. Friend set out what
steps the Government are taking to ensure that such tendencies
are also up to a decent standard? How will that be backed up with
monitoring and enforcement?
We are committed to legislating for a decent homes standard,
which is critical. I agree that enforcement is terribly
important, which is why we have strengthened councils’
enforcement powers, including through penalties of up to
£30,000.
(Battersea) (Lab)
Awaab Ishak’s death was shocking, and such things should not be
happening in our country in 2022. Everybody deserves a warm, safe
and decent home to live in. His case shows what happens when
people living in social housing are disregarded, as has been the
case in my constituency after decades of Conservative control of
Wandsworth Borough Council, which has allowed social housing
stock to go into decay. What is the Secretary of State’s
Department doing to assist investment in social housing?
The hon. Lady raises an important issue. I should say that
Wandsworth under Conservative leadership was an outstanding and
exemplary council in so many ways, but I understand that she has
to make that point—the constituency Labour parties have to be
kept happy and so on. The key thing is that all local authorities
have an obligation, as do all registered social landlords, and we
want to work with them to tackle the issue that she rightly
raised.
(Chelmsford) (Con)
In Chelmsford we badly need more social and affordable housing.
When new housing developments are built, the local authority can
set a rule that a certain proportion of the new homes must be
affordable. I urge my right hon. Friend to consider enabling
local authorities to put in place similar rules when large
commercial buildings such as office blocks are converted from
commercial to residential properties.
That is an important issue that relates to permitted development
rights. My right hon. Friend is on to something, so I look
forward to working with her.
(Brentford and Isleworth)
(Lab)
As private sector rents continue to rise in west London, more and
more of my constituents on low incomes and dependent on benefits
are having to pay rent well above the levels of the local housing
allowance. They cannot afford it and are having either not to eat
or not to heat their homes. Will the Secretary of State make a
statement about the urgent need for the Government to uprate
local housing allowance?
The hon. Lady makes an important point about local housing
allowance, but I gently remind her that one thing we can do is to
improve the supply of housing in west London, and I think I am
right in saying that she has not always been an energetic
supporter of every development that has come forward in her
constituency.
(North Norfolk) (Con)
In June, the Prime Minister announced plans to extend the right
to buy to housing association tenants to enable them to purchase
their own homes. Will my right hon. Friend update me on the
progress of this initiative and confirm whether a tenant who has
purchased an initial equity stake in a housing association home
on shared-ownership terms will be able to use a right-to-buy
discount to purchase the remaining equity stake through
staircasing?
That is the direction in which we wish to move, yes.
(North Shropshire) (LD)
I have been proud to support a very good levelling-up bid in
Oswestry in my constituency. With North Shropshire being such a
large rural area, public transport is a really important part of
levelling up the whole region, so will the Secretary of State
look favourably on both Oswestry’s bid and Shropshire’s bid to
improve bus services across the county?
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for speaking so passionately about
the bid for her constituency. I am certainly willing to engage
with her and Ministers at the Department for Transport to see
what more we can do.
(Rutland and Melton)
(Con)
Rutland and Melton councils have put forward a brilliant
blueprint for rural innovation in our levelling-up bid, focused
on health and transport. The context is an urgent need to put
social mobility into funding formulas for those areas of
deprivation otherwise hidden by affluence. Will my right hon.
Friend do what he said he would do back in February: take up an
offer that is too good to be true by coming to Rutland and Melton
to discuss the bid and the future of social mobility funding?
What an alluring invitation—and yes. As my hon. Friend the Member
for South Leicestershire () pointed out earlier,
Leicestershire and Rutland are relatively poorly funded in
comparison with other local authorities, which is why the
particular plight of deprived communities in my hon. Friend’s
constituency and elsewhere is at the forefront of our minds.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
Recent analysis has found that £1 in every £13 allocated through
the two levelling-up funding rounds will be lost to
inflation—that is more than £560 million—so how will Ministers
ensure that complex bids such as that for the remediation of
hexavalent chromium at Shawfield in my constituency do not miss
out on funding opportunities as a result?
We will do everything possible to work with local authorities,
particularly to make sure that every pound goes further. The hon.
Lady quite rightly raises the whole question of bearing down on
inflation; I hope that she and others will be in the Division
Lobby tomorrow evening to support the Government in the measures
we have taken in the autumn statement that will bear down on
inflation. I note that Members on the Labour Benches have not yet
criticised those measures; they appreciate, as we do, that we
need to work together to tame inflation.
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