Budget comment - Florence Eshalomi, HCLG Chair, comments on housing, building safety, and council finances

Florence Eshalomi, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, has commented on today's Budget statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Florence Eshalomi, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, said: “To help tackle the housing crisis and enable families to get the homes they need, it's vital we boost investment in affordable housing.

"I therefore welcome the Chancellor's £500m top up of the Affordable Homes Programme and the scaling back of Right to Buy incentives which will help to drive investment in new social housing and the improvement of existing housing stock. 

“The Chancellor's announcement of £1 billion to accelerate the remediation of blocks with dangerous cladding is welcome news and we look forward to seeing more detail on how this will be driven forward. 

“Notwithstanding the Budget's announcement of a funding increase for local government, and additional money for areas such as SEND, local councils will continue to be buffeted by a variety of service pressures and significant financial challenges.

"As a Committee, we will be keen to look at the issues of local government finance over this Parliament and will closely scrutinise the Government's financial settlement for councils when that is announced later this year."