Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con) 1.
What steps he is taking to support rough sleepers and homeless
people to move into accommodation.(901760) Lilian Greenwood
(Nottingham South) (Lab) 17. What steps he is taking to help reduce
the number of families in temporary accommodation.(901777) The
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing
and Communities (Felicity Buchan) We are investing almost
£2.4...Request free trial
Rough Sleeping and Homelessness
(Harrow East) (Con)
1. What steps he is taking to support rough sleepers and homeless
people to move into accommodation.(901760)
(Nottingham South)
(Lab)
17. What steps he is taking to help reduce the number of families
in temporary accommodation.(901777)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
We are investing almost £2.4 billion over three years to tackle
homelessness and rough sleeping, which is an unprecedented
amount. That includes over £1.2 billion through the homelessness
prevention grant, which councils can use flexibly to prevent
homelessness and help families to move out of temporary
accommodation. Last week, an additional £107 million was
allocated to councils through the single homelessness
accommodation programme, providing 808 homes for people sleeping
rough.
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but the number of people
in temporary accommodation has risen by 10% over the past year,
and the number of rough sleepers has risen by 27% across the
country. Clearly, the money is very much needed—all London
councils report that they are spending more than the temporary
accommodation money that has been allocated. Equally, the pilots
for Housing First have been outstandingly successful, so can we
ensure that Housing First is introduced across the country and
more investment is made, in order to take people off the streets
and provide them with a permanent home, as they deserve?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for everything he has done in the
homelessness space. The other day, I was looking at the figures
from the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017—we have supported
708,000 families courtesy of that Act, in order to prevent
homelessness. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we have
seen an uptick in rough sleeping and homelessness, which is
disappointing. However, with rough sleeping we are still 9% below
pre-pandemic levels, and 18% below the highs in 2017. I agree
with him about the success of Housing First. We have invested £42
million in those pilots, and we are investing a further £30
million through the rough sleeping initiative.
There are 142,000 children living in temporary accommodation—a
record high that is costly to taxpayers, but devastating to the
lives of children and families—and the Government’s own data
shows that they have utterly failed on their 2019 manifesto
commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024. As the hon. Member for
Harrow East () has just said, rough sleeping has risen by 27% in
the past year, and I remind the Minister that it is 120% higher
than in 2010. Is she happy for children and families to be paying
the price for 14 years of Tory failure on housing?
This Government have made a concerted effort to tackle
homelessness and eliminate rough sleeping. I am not happy with
the numbers in temporary accommodation, which is why the last
autumn statement contained a series of measures to address the
issue, including an additional £450 million for the local
authority housing fund—taking that to £1.2 billion—in order to
improve the quality of temporary accommodation. We have also
uprated the local housing allowance to the 30th percentile, which
is worth £800 per family.
(Southend West) (Con)
Southend has an abundance of accommodation that is deemed
inexpensive by local authorities, and our city is picking up the
tab for social care, education and long-term housing when other
local authorities are not informing our city council that they
are placing people in the city. Under section 208 of the Housing
Act 1996, all local authorities should give prior notice when
placing people for homelessness within 14 days. Will my hon.
Friend assist me and Southend-on-Sea City Council in dealing with
this issue?
My hon. Friend is absolutely correct: if a local authority places
people into temporary accommodation outside the borough, it
should notify the relevant local authority. I am very happy to
assist in getting that message across.
(Twickenham) (LD)
Analysis by London Councils shows that, on average, the
equivalent of one child in every classroom is homeless and that
London local authorities are now spending a staggering £90
million a month on temporary accommodation for those who are
homeless. What conversations has the Minister had with colleagues
in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury about
raising the cap on the housing benefit subsidy for temporary
accommodation and also supporting local authorities to buy up
property, as Richmond Borough Council is doing, so they can
rehouse people locally in decent accommodation?
As the hon. Lady will understand, I cannot talk about any
discussions that we may have had with the Treasury, but clearly
the Budget is on Wednesday. However, I would point to the
increase in the local housing allowance rate, which will take
effect in April, and the local authority housing fund is intended
specifically to help local authorities to buy properties for
temporary accommodation.
Mr Speaker
I call shadow Secretary of State.
(Ashton-under-Lyne)
(Lab)
I hear what the Minister says about the housing fund for
temporary accommodation, but what we need to be doing is reducing
the number of families in temporary accommodation. Four years
have passed since the Government first promised to end section 21
evictions, and now 70,000 children are coming home from school
each night to sleep in temporary accommodation. For a child being
brought up in a hotel room, doing their homework on the bathroom
floor and eating their dinner perched on the bed, the opportunity
to make the most of their life is out of their control. So I ask
the Minister how many more children must face eviction before she
meets the promise?
We are absolutely committed to repealing section 21—there is no
question about that. As I have said, the numbers for those in
temporary accommodation are disappointing but we do have a very
holistic approach: building more housing, building more
affordable homes, and enabling local authorities to go out and
build and purchase temporary accommodation.
Levelling-up Fund
(Clacton) (Con)
3. What assessment he has made of the impact of the levelling-up
fund on local communities.(901762)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
We are transforming communities the length and breadth of our
United Kingdom through our £4.8 billion levelling-up fund,
improving transport, regenerating high streets and rebuilding
pride in place.
I thank my hon. Friend for his answer, and I am delighted that we
have recently been able to bring £78 million of investment to
Clacton. Freeports will be a major contributor towards levelling
up, and in my view levelling up also means better transport
infrastructure, but not enough is getting through to bus services
in my patch. Will he support my campaign outlining that Freeport
East in Essex needs to show its social value in Clacton by
helping to improve connectivity for everyone across the Tendring
district, including for buses?
I am more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss his
campaign. Buses are the most popular form of public transport in
our country. They are an essential element of our national
transport system, playing a vital part in levelling up. I am
grateful to my hon. Friend for acknowledging the huge amount of
levelling-up funding going into Clacton and am keen to work with
him to see how we can help people in Jaywick as well.
Dame (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)
My borough, Hackney, was successful in its bid for levelling-up
funding, but there was a delay to the bid being put in, because
the Government changed the timetable, and a delay to the final
decision, again because the Government delayed the timetable,
which has contributed—it is not the only factor—to a nine-month
delay in the programme and getting the funding. Will the Minister
look at that? Given that it is a Government flagship programme,
is he not a bit disappointed that the timescale problems are down
to his own Department?
I absolutely commit to looking at that. We have introduced the
project adjustment request process, and I am more than happy to
talk to the hon. Lady and her local authority about how they can
utilise that to meet the changes that she outlines.
(Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale
and Tweeddale) (Con)
Does my hon. Friend agree that the great strength of levelling-up
funding is that it supports projects that are generated by local
communities, rather than by officialdom? When the Borders
levelling-up partnership is considering projects, the projects in
my constituency at the Crook Inn at Tweedsmuir and the George
Hotel in Walkerburn are ideal for such funding opportunities.
I was grateful to meet my right hon. Friend recently to discuss
those exact priorities. We are hoping to invest £20 million into
the levelling-up partnership he mentions. I am sure that those
priorities will be part of our considerations as we design the
partnership.
(East Antrim) (DUP)
Communities in Northern Ireland experienced no benefit from the
last round of levelling-up funding, because of the Government’s
flimsy excuse that the Assembly was not sitting. Now that the
Assembly is sitting, can the Minister tell us what discussions he
has had with the communities Minister to ensure that the millions
of pounds that he said was set aside will be available for
projects in Northern Ireland?
I can absolutely commit to having those discussions, and I offer
to meet the right hon. Gentleman following Question Time.
Dame (Morley and Outwood)
(Con)
I am proud that Morley has received £24 million in funding from
the Conservative Government. I am sure that my hon. Friend agrees
that transparency and care with taxpayers’ money is vital. Will
he look into the concerns that a number of constituents have
raised about Morley Town Council, including the controversial
plan to install £80,000-worth of TV screens in a conservation
area, whether it followed the correct tendering process and
whether any vested interests among those involved were fully
declared?
I will absolutely look into those concerns and ensure that my
officials can meet my hon. Friend to discuss them further.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
The success or otherwise of levelling up will be tested by
whether people in communities feel better off and whether
inequalities in those communities are removed. What assessment
has the Minister made of an area such as Tameside, which has had
three successful levelling-up bids, but feels poorer because its
council is £200 million worse off?
Across the north-west, we are investing £2.2 billion through our
different levelling-up fund streams. We are working closely with
the Mayor of Greater Manchester, giving him more powers and more
funding to help deal with the exact issues the hon. Gentleman
mentions.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Oldham West and Royton)
(Lab/Co-op)
The Government talk about levelling up, but local councils and
communities are on the brink due to policies made in Downing
Street that affect every single local authority in the country.
Funding has been slashed, the fair funding review delayed, and
the business rate reset postponed, while reserves are depleted,
community assets have been sold, accounts go unsubmitted, and
more and more councils are lining up for emergency support. Is it
not time to end the sticking-plaster politics and have a
long-term plan for all our communities’ sake, or are the
Government doing what the country is doing: waiting for a Labour
Government?
I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman failed to mention the
long-term plan for Oldham, which is in his constituency and where
we are investing £20 million over the next 10 years. Since 2019,
we have invested £15 billion of levelling-up funding across the
country. We are committed to levelling up right across the
country.
Local Government Finance: Potholes
(Chesterfield) (Lab)
5. If he will make a comparative assessment of trends in (a) the
level of local government financial settlements and (b) the
number of cars damaged as a result of potholes in the last 10
years. (901764)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
We have made available up to £64.7 billion for local authorities
through the 2024-25 local government finance settlement. Local
authorities can decide how to spend the majority of that funding.
The Government are also investing more than £5 billion into local
highways maintenance in this Parliament. In October, we announced
a further £8 billion to fix our roads.
Mr Perkins
GoCompare’s recent pothole report described the potholes in
Tory-run Derbyshire as the very worst in England. The
Conservative council leader was clear in his view that it is
funding decisions from central Government that have forced the
county to adopt what he called the totally ineffective “sticking
plaster and patching approach”. He said that the funding from the
Government
“doesn’t touch the sides of the issue for counties”
across the country. Why should Derbyshire motorists pay a Tory
pothole tax, with tyres, springs and suspensions all constantly
needing repairing as a result of the state of our roads?
For the hon. Gentleman’s benefit, let me repeat those figures of
£5 billion for local highways maintenance and the additional £8
billion announced in October. That will fill holes, including in
Derbyshire and his constituency, to support motorists, the
economy and people going about their business.
(The Wrekin) (Con)
It is normal in these circumstances to invite a Minister to visit
a constituency. The Minister is welcome to visit my constituency,
The Wrekin in Shropshire, and the Telford and Wrekin borough, but
if he visits the Telford and Wrekin borough bit, could he bring a
spare tyre? The potholes there are enormous. I thank him for
allowing £32 million to be released over the next 11 years to
ensure that those potholes are filled. Rather than a pothole tax,
may I thank him for the pothole fund? Finally—[Interruption.] I
will not give a “finally”, but he is very welcome to visit. Bring
a spare tyre!
As I struggle with my Lenten observations, I need no lessons
about spare tyres—it is all about trying to get rid of spare
tyres, as far as I am concerned. I am grateful for my right hon.
Friend’s comments. The Wrekin is a part of Shropshire that I know
well. Those sums can and should be used by upper-tier
authorities, which are the highways authority, to ensure that
their networks are working well, smoothly and safely. That
benefits all, and the Government are putting up the money to
allow them to do that.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Ashton-under-Lyne)
(Lab)
Public service workers and local leaders across the country are
working incredibly hard to improve their local areas and provide
vital services, so rather than the begging bowl culture that
makes them bid for money, will the Minister take forward Labour’s
commitment for a long-term, more secure funding settlement to
allow them to plan for the future?
I am intrigued by what the right hon. Lady proffers to the House.
Only a few weeks ago, in the debate on the local government
finance settlement—none of her colleagues apart from the hon.
Member for York Central (), the hon. Member for
Sheffield South East (Mr Betts), who chairs the Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities Committee, and those on the Front Bench
could be bothered to turn up and speak on it—the hon. Member for
Blaydon (), who is sitting next to her on
the Front Bench, said:
“As I will come on to say shortly, we will have a review to look
at the long-term plans. We understand the problems that local
government is facing.”[—[Official Report, 7 February 2024; Vol.
745, c.
326.]](/search/column?VolumeNumber=745&ColumnNumber=326&House=1)
May I say to the right hon. Lady that part of the job of being in
Opposition is to work out the policies that she may want to
deliver in government?
Islamophobia
(Glenrothes) (SNP)
6. What steps he is taking to tackle Islamophobia.(901765)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
We have been clear that anti-Muslim hatred has absolutely no
place in our communities. I feel that strongly, as I represent
one of the most diverse constituencies in the country. We have
provided over £6 million to the anti-Muslim hatred monitoring and
support service Tell MAMA, and just shy of £13 million to schemes
protecting mosques and faith schools. Funding for both measures
had been uplifted in response to increased reporting since
October.
An extreme right-wing Conservative MP was allowed to go on an
extreme right-wing Conservative-funding TV station and make a
series of vile Islamophobic remarks. The MP was not suspended for
Islamophobia; he was suspended for refusing to obey an order from
his party leader. Does the Minister understand why it is that,
not only among Muslim communities but across a much wider range
of believers and non-believers, people are becoming increasingly
concerned that, in the eyes of this Government, Islamophobia is
seen as somehow less abhorrent than other forms of racism?
The Government were absolutely clear that those were not
appropriate comments. That is completely clear. Any form of
religious hatred is not acceptable in our society.
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
The recent rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents and crimes is
really worrying. Will the Government do everything they can to
improve education so as to improve multi-faith understanding and
tackle this scourge?
My right hon. Friend makes a good point. Education is critical,
and we need to bring our communities together. Last weekend, I
was delighted to attend an inter-faith event in my constituency
that included Holland Park synagogue, where it was hosted, and
al-Manaar mosque. That inter-faith work and communities working
together is critical.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Blaydon) (Lab)
For almost two years this Tory Government have failed to appoint
an independent adviser on Islamophobia. The former adviser has
criticised the Government for their failure to engage, and
revealed that he could not even get them to provide terms of
reference for his role. Does the Minister agree that this
Government lack the political will to tackle this pernicious
hatred, or even to call it out?
I strongly disagree. We plan to appoint a new independent adviser
on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.
Mr Speaker
I call the Scottish National party spokesperson.
Ms Anum Qaisar (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Like so many, I am fearful of the inability to call out
Islamophobia becoming a scaremongering tactic to stoke fear and
division and garner support for the extreme far right. It makes
life difficult or even dangerous for Muslims. Across all four
nations, more can and should be done on a cross-party basis to
tackle that hatred. That starts with being able to call out
Islamophobia when it occurs. Could the Minister clarify the line
between being wrong and being Islamophobic?
There is no question but that those comments were wrong. I face
the Mayor of London in opposition all the time, and I could
criticise him for many things—housing, policing, fire or
transport—but I would never accuse him of being in any way under
the influence of Islamists.
Ms Qaisar
That response will give people little comfort. Let me paint a
picture for the Minister of what life is like for many Muslims
growing up and living across these four nations. A month after
the 9/11 attacks in 2001, my local mosque in Carfin was petrol
bombed. The two men were sentenced to one year and nine months
respectively. If asked, most Muslims will have their own stories.
Muslims are not asking for special treatment. They work, pay
taxes, send their kids to the same schools and support the same
football teams. The Government have had ample opportunity over
the past few weeks to commit to tackling this stain on society,
but there has been no substantial change in policy. Next Friday
15 March marks the UN’s International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
Will the Government use that opportunity to commit to adopting
the definition of the all-party parliamentary group?
I want to make it clear that this Government will not tolerate
religious hatred towards Muslims or any other faith group. That
is a red line. This Government are aware, very sadly, of
incidents of anti-Muslim hatred, which is why we put in place an
extra £4.9 million of protective security funding for Muslim
mosques, faith schools and communities. We are 100% behind our
Muslim communities.
Dame (Wallasey) (Lab)
7. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of section
21 evictions on levels of homelessness. (901766)
(Enfield North) (Lab)
9. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of section
21 evictions on levels of homelessness. (901768)
(Leeds East) (Lab)
14. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of
section 21 evictions on levels of homelessness. (901773)
(Salford and Eccles)
(Lab)
23. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of
section 21 evictions on levels of homelessness. (901783)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The Department publishes official statistics on homelessness
duties owed, including the number of households threatened with
homelessness following service of a valid section 21 notice. We
are committed to the abolition of section 21 through our landmark
Renters (Reform) Bill, which will deliver a fairer private rented
sector for both tenants and landlords.
Dame
In 2019 the Government promised to abolish section 21 no-fault
evictions, but the Bill that they finally published five years
later, which the Minister mentioned, does not actually abolish
section 21 no-fault evictions. Meanwhile, 140,000 children are
living in costly temporary accommodation. In my constituency we
get one or two cases every week. The problems are piling up. When
will this Government do what they promised—stop delaying, stop
dithering, and abolish no-fault evictions?
As I have already said, we are absolutely committed to abolishing
section 21. The Renters (Reform) Bill is going through Parliament
and I look forward to debating it with the hon. Lady when it
returns to this House.
My borough of Enfield topped London’s league for section 21
evictions last year, setting a grim record and resulting in a
dramatic rise in homeless families approaching the council for
help. At its peak, the borough had 400 families approach the
council for help in one month, yet Ministers are unwilling to
stand up to their own Back Benchers. The Minister says the
Government are committed to abolishing section 21 evictions. Can
I please ask him when? When will he bring the Bill back, so we
can bring an end to no-fault evictions?
I pay tribute to the hon. Lady, who I have heard campaigning on
this issue a number of times. I am well aware of her concerns for
her constituents. As I said, we are absolutely committed to
abolishing section 21. We will bring forward the Bill as soon as
we are able to do so. I would also say to her that the Mayor of
London is not building enough homes. He is not building enough
homes to meet the Government-assessed need for London. He is not
even building homes to his own targets, so I encourage her to
have a conversation with him as well.
In Salford, from April to November last year, approximately 466
individuals presented to Salford City Council in crisis because
of section 21 notices. Salford’s social housing waiting list is
currently in the thousands. Private market rents are outstripping
incomes and local housing allowance rates at a frighteningly
exponential rate. There are no affordable homes to go to once
someone is evicted from a property, so homelessness is now at
acute levels in Salford. This is not just a housing crisis; this
is a homelessness crisis in Salford. When are the Government
going to bring back the Renters (Reform) Bill, with robust
amendments finally banning section 21 evictions? What action will
the Minister take to ensure that my constituents urgently have
long-term secure tenancies?
Again, I have heard the hon. Lady talk about this issue a number
of times. We are absolutely committed to the abolition of section
21. I am personally committed to that. We will bring back the
Bill as soon as we are able to do so.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Greenwich and Woolwich)
(Lab)
In resisting Labour’s efforts to strengthen the Renters (Reform)
Bill, Ministers have repeatedly argued that the legislation as
drafted strikes precisely the right balance between the interests
of tenants and those of landlords, yet by watering down
protections for renters and further delaying the long-overdue
abolition of section 21 evictions, the package of draft
Government amendments to the Bill that we saw last week will tilt
the playing field decisively back towards the landlord interest.
Are we to believe that the Government have honestly decided, at
the 11th hour, that it is landlords who need more rights and
powers, or is this not simply a crude attempt to manage an
increasingly fractious Tory party at a shameful cost to
hard-pressed private tenants?
The hon. Gentleman, like various Members who have spoken, is a
committed campaigner on this issue. I enjoyed our time together
in the Public Bill Committee. We need to strike the balance he
has just spoken about. That is why we are discussing the Bill
with both landlord groups and tenant groups. We are meeting
colleagues on the Government Benches and the Labour Benches, and
those in the smaller parties, too. We are ensuring that when we
bring the Bill back it is in the best possible shape so that it
affords protections and security for tenants, but protections, in
fairness, for landlords too.
Flood Recovery Framework
(Bedford) (Lab)
8. What his planned timescale is for reviewing the flood recovery
framework. (901767)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. I am
pleased to report that the review of the flood recovery framework
has already begun and I expect the work to be completed by autumn
this year. We will, of course, update Parliament in the usual way
when that review is completed.
My constituent Lucy owns Ride Leisure Events on Wyboston Lakes,
which flooded again during Storm Henk. She cannot get insurance
and her business is not entitled to compensation under the flood
recovery framework because of the Government’s arbitrary decision
to expect cash-strapped councils to cover the cost if fewer than
50 properties are impacted. It is very unfair that my constituent
has fallen through the safety net. She will not be the only one,
with property in Kempston regularly affected by flooding. Will
the Minister crack that anomaly in the framework and help my
constituent save her business?
I am sorry to hear about that case, and if the hon. Gentleman
wishes to write to me giving details of the business, I will of
course look into it. As for Storm Henk, 2,241 properties have
been identified as eligible for grant support. That covers 16
upper-tier local authorities, and to date payments of £788,743
have been reported by authorities to impacted householders and
businesses. There always has to be a rubric in these cases, and
this issue will be considered during the flood recovery framework
review, on which, as I have said, we will report back to the
House. However, the offer is there: if the hon. Gentleman wishes
to write to me, I will happily look at what he has to say.
(Rother Valley)
(Con)
Whiston has been flooded repeatedly over the past decade, and
there is a huge ongoing issue, but Rotherham council recently
approved the building of 450 new homes there. Whiston Parish
Council, which is independently aligned and thus not party
political, called a special public meeting about the plans, which
show water running uphill—which I believe it does not do—and
floodwater draining into a non-existent stream. This surely
demonstrates that Rotherham Council does not understand the issue
of flooding. Does my right hon. Friend agree that all councils,
including Rotherham, have a responsibility not to build on
floodplains?
My hon. Friend has raised an important issue. Between them, the
local planning authority and the Environment Agency should always
find the most appropriate sites for development and take
hydrology and water management into consideration. The Minister
for Housing, Planning and Building Safety, my hon. Friend the
Member for North East Derbyshire (), will have heard what my hon. Friend has said, and
may contact him in due course.
Private Roads
(Mid Bedfordshire)
(Lab)
10. Whether he has had recent discussions with local authorities
on adopting private roads on new estates. (901769)
The Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety ()
The adoption of roads is largely an issue for my right hon.
Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, who leads on that
policy, but I know—because we have spoken about this in the
Committee considering the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill—that
the hon. Gentleman has a significant interest in this matter. We
understand the strength of feeling about it, and we are
considering it further.
Across the country, homeowners in a state of adoption limbo are
being left exposed to exploitative and often unaccountable
management companies. Despite their warm words, sadly the
Government did not take any of the actions that the Competition
and Markets Authority urged them to take in order to end the
issue of fleecehold once and for all. Given that the Secretary of
State is rumoured to be on the lookout for legacy
accomplishments, will the Minister urge his colleagues to finally
act on this issue during the current Parliament, or will
fleecehold be yet another issue left for the next Government to
tackle?
With the best will in the world, the CMA report was published a
few days ago, and the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill had been
progressing through the House for a number of months before that.
As for the hon. Gentleman’s specific point, I hope he will
accept, as other Members, including his colleagues, have done,
that the Bill is a significant improvement for estate management,
providing the right of redress to a tribunal, further information
and the right to absolute clarity on service charges. All those
changes have been rightly demanded by residents, and we are
considering carefully whether there is anything further than we
can do.
Town Deals
(Ipswich) (Con)
11. What steps his Department is taking to support the delivery
of town deals. (901770)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
My Department is engaging with all town deal recipients to
support delivery through our performance monitoring process, and
we have a particular interest in progress in Ipswich following
the allocation of £25 million, secured by the hon. Gentleman, for
10 projects there.
I am very grateful for that investment. As the Secretary of State
will know, my hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland () had to intervene because
of the slow production of the business cases. We got over that
hurdle, but sadly, years later, we are still desperately waiting
for delivery on the ground. When bodies other than the Labour-led
council are responsible for projects, they are delivered—no
problem—but when the council is in the driving seat, what we see
is no delivery. Whether it is cock-up or conspiracy, it is not
good enough. Will the Secretary of State please intervene to let
the council know that it is not right to put politics before the
delivery that the people of Ipswich so desperately need?
My hon. Friend is a bonnie fechter for Ipswich, and he is
absolutely right about, for instance, the local shopping parades
project and the former R&W Paul Silo building. I am afraid
that we have not seen the progress that we would expect. It is
indeed the case that the Labour Council in Ipswich is not
delivering for the people of Ipswich in the way that my hon.
Friend so brilliantly does.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
I thought that the Secretary of State’s Government were
introducing all these deals in order to help the parts of the
country that were struggling and where more people on low
earnings lived. Like him, I have been looking carefully at who is
getting the money. Why does so much of it goes to Tory marginal
seats? Is that fair?
First, Ipswich is an area that deserves investment—an area that
has been overlooked and undervalued under Labour Governments.
Secondly, on Friday I was proud to be able to announce additional
investment in a mass transit system, which will enable the hon.
Gentleman’s constituents in Huddersfield to travel more quickly
across West Yorkshire to Leeds and Bradford. Sadly, it is the
case at the moment that we do not have Conservative MPs in Leeds
or Bradford, but we know that the Labour marginal seats in Leeds
and Bradford, and of course the marginal seat of Huddersfield,
will very soon have Conservative representation.
Community Ownership Fund
(Penistone and Stocksbridge)
(Con)
12. What the eligibility criteria for the community ownership
fund are. (901771)
(Bury North) (Con)
22. What the eligibility criteria for the community ownership
fund are. (901782)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The £150 million community ownership fund is open to voluntary
and community organisations or parish, town and community
councils from all parts of the United Kingdom that have a viable
plan for taking ownership of a community asset at risk and
running it sustainably for community benefit. So far, we have
awarded £71 million to 257 community projects, including £1
million to Gigg Lane, the home of Bury FC. Detailed guidance on
the criteria is available in the prospectus on gov.uk.
Silsden Methodist church in my constituency has not been used for
worship for some time, but it is a really important community
space, where a wide range of community groups meet regularly.
Sadly, I understand that the Methodist Church may now sell the
building, threatening the future of these groups, but Silsden
Parish Council has managed to have the building listed as an
asset of community value. Could my hon. Friend tell me whether
the community ownership fund might be a suitable source of
funding to secure the future of the building, or which other
funds the parish council should be looking at?
It sounds as though the church is eligible, but I am happy to
meet my hon. Friend to discuss eligibility further. Applicants
can bid for up to £2 million in capital funding from the
community ownership fund, with additional revenue funding
available, but in the first instance I would recommend that
interested applicants read the prospectus on gov.uk, as this will
cover all they need to know regarding eligibility requirements,
funding available and the application process.
Would my hon. Friend consider amending the criteria for community
ownership fund applications to include the potential community
purchase of redundant council assets? It would bring back to life
many publicly owned buildings and spaces that are currently
serving no purpose or are underused.
I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy for the fund and for his
constituents in Bury. The community ownership fund works
alongside existing community asset transfers and supports them by
funding the costs of renovation and refurbishment. We cannot fund
the cost of purchasing publicly owned assets where the public
authority would credit a capital receipt, except in the case of
parish, town and community councils, but I am happy to meet him
to discuss this issue further.
(Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD)
In many communities in Westmorland, the pub is the centre of the
community and is often under threat. In some cases, the local
pub—such as The Ship Inn in Sandside—has closed down altogether.
The community ownership fund is clearly a very good way of
allowing the community to bring such businesses back into public
use, but does the fund allow communities to go through the
process of compulsory purchase, so that a building can be taken
from an owner who is unwilling to sell and made useful again for
the local community?
I think the CPO process is probably a bit too lengthy for the
fund itself, but I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss
the project directly. We are very happy to help fund community
pubs through the community ownership fund.
(Glasgow Central)
(SNP)
The Citizens theatre in Glasgow is a much-beloved institution and
has been undergoing refurbishment for several years. It has had a
range of funding from Glasgow City Council, the Scottish
Government and Historic Environment Scotland, but, due to
inflation and various measures, it still requires additional
funding to make up the balance and complete its really
significant refurbishment programme. Is the community ownership
fund something that the Citizens theatre might be able to avail
itself of?
Once again, it sounds as though the theatre may be eligible. I
cannot comment on its eligibility today, but I am happy to meet
the hon. Lady to discuss whether the fund is appropriate for the
Citizens theatre.
Local Authority Finance
(Amber Valley) (Con)
13. What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the
financial sustainability of local authorities. (901772)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
We have made available up to £64.7 billion for local authorities
through the local government finance settlement for 2024-25—an
above-inflation increase of up to £4.5 billion, or 7.5% in cash
terms, on 2023-24. Of course, that includes an additional £600
million of funding, which was announced by my hon. Friend the
Minister for Local Government on 24 January.
Aside from potholes, the issue that has caused the most angst for
Derbyshire County Council is the significant rise in the cost of
residential placements for looked-after children. The council
believes that the market for this is now completely out of
control and that prices are excessive. Is there more that the
Government can do to help councils financially to pay these bills
or to find a better way to structure that market so that the
bills are not so high?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. We are spending £500
million additionally on adult and children’s social care, but he
is right to say that the cost of residential homes for
looked-after children is excessive, and a number of private
equity firms are operating like bandits in this area. I have
talked to the Minister responsible, the Under-Secretary of State
for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (), and action will be
forthcoming.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee, .
(Sheffield South East)
(Lab)
The Select Committee recently produced a report on local
government finance in which we said that the Government must act
now if local authorities are to survive this severe crisis. What
has the Secretary of State done? He has asked every local
authority to produce a productivity plan. That sounds a bit like
advising councils how to spend better the money they have not
got. He has asked local authorities to identify
“ways to reduce wasteful spend”.
What does he think they have been doing for the last 13 years? In
particular, he has asked them to identify waste on
“discredited staff equality, diversity and inclusion
programmes”.
How much does he think that will save when it comes to avoiding
section 114 notices?
The Chairman of the Select Committee is right to say that local
government is facing challenges, but there are outstanding
councils—North Lincolnshire and South Norfolk, for example—that
are continuing to ensure that they can build up surpluses and
deliver effective services. That is because they put productivity
first. There are some local authorities, lamentably, that are not
putting productivity first. They include South Cambridgeshire,
with its plans for a four-day week, and St Albans, which is still
spending money on discredited forms of training that only
increase division rather than bringing communities together. It
is no coincidence that both those local authorities are Liberal
Democrat.
Property Repairs: Recourse for Renters
(Uxbridge and South
Ruislip) (Con)
16. Whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that there
is appropriate recourse for renters if property repairs and
safety concerns are not adequately dealt with by landlords.
(901776)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
Where landlords fail to keep their properties in an acceptable
condition, local authorities can issue improvement notices and
impose penalties for non-compliance. Social tenants can already
access the housing ombudsman service, and the Renters (Reform)
Bill will establish a new landlord ombudsman service so that
private tenants can also seek free redress.
While these changes in legislation are welcome, it is clear that
more must be done. Too many rental and leasehold residents in my
constituency face ongoing issues in ensuring that landlords and
freeholders face up to their responsibilities. Will the Minister
work with me to ensure that my residents in precarious situations
with unresponsive landlords or leaseholders are able to access
the correct course of remedial action in a timely and effective
manner?
I will indeed work with my hon. Friend to ensure that his
residents, who he is such a brilliant champion for, can access
redress. We are committed to protecting tenants from the minority
of landlords and agents who provide a poor service. Where a
property is managed by an agent, residents can seek redress
through the property ombudsman or the property redress scheme, as
well as the housing ombudsman for social tenants and the new
ombudsman for private tenants. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform
Bill will require freeholders who manage their property to join a
redress scheme, too.
(Putney) (Lab)
Too many children across the country are still being hospitalised
because there is mould in their private rented homes. Repairs and
concerns especially about mould are the subject of Awaab’s law,
which is being brought in, but private landlords are being let
off the hook. Will the Minister consider supporting my private
Member’s Bill to extend Awaab’s law and ensure that private
landlords fulfil their responsibilities to fix mould?
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for the time we have spent
together discussing her private Member’s Bill. Through the
Renters (Reform) Bill we are introducing a new decent homes
standard for the private rented sector, which I believe covers
the majority of her Bill, but I would be happy to continue those
discussions with her further.
Norfolk Devolution Deal
(North Norfolk) (Con)
18. What steps he is taking to implement the Norfolk devolution
deal. (901778)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
My Department is supporting the implementation of the Norfolk
devolution deal, which is progressing well. Norfolk County
Council, under its brilliant leader, intends to vote to change
its governance in July, leading to the election of a directly
elected leader in May 2025.
The Budget, in a couple of days’ time, could do two things for
Norfolk. First, it could announce the county deal to give Norfolk
control of its future. Even more importantly, it could provide
the vehicle for my Sheringham roundabout, which the Secretary of
State knows all about. The roundabout will be wonderful for my
North Norfolk constituency, so has he convinced the Chancellor to
announce it yet?
I cannot reveal the nature of any discussions I have had with the
Chancellor, but Sheringham roundabout is one of the single most
important infrastructure investments in Norfolk. My hon. Friend
the Member for North Norfolk () has convincingly made the
case to me, and I hope we will be able to get motoring on it
before too long.
Social Rented Housing
(Bolton South East)
(Lab)
19. What steps he is taking to increase the provision of social
rented housing. (901779)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
Our £11.5 billion affordable housing programme will deliver
thousands of affordable homes for both rent and purchase right
across the country. The levelling-up White Paper committed to
increasing the supply of social rented homes, and a large number
of the new homes delivered through our affordable homes programme
will be for social rent.
In Bolton, 20,000 people are on a housing waiting list. There is
an 18-month wait for a three-bedroom house and, on average, 800
to 900 people apply for each home that comes up. Families are
often referred to the private rented sector, which they are not
able to afford—we know that rents are sky high. After 14 years of
this Tory Government failing to build affordable homes, will the
Minister now apologise to my constituents who are stuck in
temporary accommodation?
The hon. Lady mentions the last 14 years. Well, since 2010, we
have delivered over 696,000 new affordable homes, including over
482,000 affordable homes for rent, of which 172,000 are for
social rent. We are committed to building more homes for people
like her constituents.
Topical Questions
(Oldham East and
Saddle-worth) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(901785)
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
()
On Friday, at the convention of the north, I was delighted to
confirm enhanced devolution deals for the Liverpool city region,
West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and additional investment in
Blackpool, Sheffield and Blackburn. That includes £1.5 million
for Tony’s Empress Ballroom, which—as you know, Mr Speaker—is an
iconic northern soul dance hall. I look forward to visiting it
with you and the shadow Secretary of State soon.
Mr Speaker
On the dancefloor tonight!
A constituent recently came to my surgery with her seven-year-old
son to show some appalling photographs of the private rented
accommodation in which they live. The little boy asked me whether
he is going to die because of the thick mould in his bedroom.
Given the housing ombudsman’s recent remarks, particularly
emphasising the link between housing conditions and health, what
urgent action will the Secretary of State take to address the
appalling situation in the private rented sector?
We will shortly say more about the decent homes standard and the
extension of the ombudsman’s powers to deal with precisely the
sort of situation that the hon. Lady raises.
Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)
T2. My local housing association, Flagship Newtide, has sold off
three more homes in Aldeburgh at auction since the last Levelling
Up, Housing and Communities questions. However, it is failing to
take action on the antisocial behaviour that is affecting several
of my constituents in Saxmundham. What powers can we apply to
make sure that people who do the right thing and want to live
peacefully in their home are not surrounded by people who deal
drugs, breed illegal pets and make other people’s lives a
misery?(901786)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
Tackling antisocial behaviour is a priority for this Government,
which is why we have published our antisocial behaviour action
plan, backed with £160 million of new funding. We have committed
to a “three strikes and you’re out” ASB policy, and landlords
will be expected to evict tenants whose behaviour is disruptive
to neighbours. My right hon. Friend will be pleased to know that,
from 1 April, the social housing regulator will require
registered providers of social housing to work with the
appropriate local authority, the Department, the police and other
relevant organisations to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Vauxhall)
(Lab/Co-op)
This week’s Budget will be a big one for young people—16 and
17-year-olds—who are starting work or making important education
choices, yet they currently have no say on who will be the next
Government. We on the Opposition Benches believe in our young
people. Will the Government act now to give 16 and 17-year-olds a
say in the next general election?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
The hon. Lady makes a case for lowering the voting age—one that I
do not support and the Government do not support. The age of 18
is seen as the age of maturity in this country and many others
across the world. It seems to have served us pretty well up to
now and I see no particular reason to change it.
(Dudley North) (Con)
T3. Will the Minister join me in congratulating South
Staffordshire Council on serving an enforcement notice to rebuild
the Crooked House pub? Will he also look favourably at measures I
will be bringing forward to ensure that heritage pubs are better
protected, because, as he will know, the Crooked House and many
others have had no protections at all?(901787)
My hon. Friend makes an important argument, and the case of the
Crooked House reinforces what he has long campaigned for: better
protection for heritage pubs. I look forward to working with him
and to achieve just that.
(Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
T4. The Secretary of State is a strong supporter of green urban
spaces, so will he urgently meet me to discuss the ancient Haven
Green, which is currently under threat and on which he is due to
make a decision soon?(901788)
Obviously, I cannot speak to the hon. Lady about specific
planning applications. I do cherish urban green spaces, but I
also cherish more homes being built in London. It would be
regrettable if she were to be a blocker, not a builder.
(Wolverhampton North East)
(Con)
Since my election, I have urged Wolverhampton City Council to
focus on city centre living, to bring footfall back to our city
centre. What more can the Government do on that? I am delighted
that the council is now changing its plans, but how can we get
upper storeys converted as well, to really bring that footfall
back?
My hon. Friend is a brilliant champion for Wolverhampton and for
Wulfrunians everywhere. In particular, she has been the single
most effective voice in attracting investment to the heart of
Wolverhampton. She is right to say that, as well as commercial
investment, we need new residential opportunities, and our
extension of permitted development rights should provide just
that.
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
T5. Will the Minister for the Union tell me what discussions he
has had with devolved Administrations, and with the Chancellor,
on the very important matter of infected blood compensation? Does
he recognise the frustration and dismay from many campaigners at
the delays? They have waited almost a year since Sir Brian
Langstaff reported on his compensation framework.(901789)
The hon. Gentleman raises a very important point. Those who have
suffered as a result of the infected blood scandal are, of
course, in the forefront of our minds. This is directly a Cabinet
Office responsibility, but I know from my time there how
seriously the Ministers charged with that responsibility take it.
I will talk to them and update the devolved Administrations on
progress towards appropriate compensation.
Neil O’Brien (Harborough) (Con)
The Government are to be commended for taking through the first
leasehold reforms for 20 years, but as the Bill now goes to the
Lords, will Ministers go further and agree: first, to empower the
3 million to 4 million people trapped on fleecehold estates; and,
secondly, to fundamentally end this scammy, dodgy, corrupt model
once and for all?
The Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety ()
My hon. Friend makes an important point about making sure that we
strike the right balance. We have brought forward significant
reforms in the Bill, but I am happy to continue to talk to him
and other Members who are interested. The Government continue to
look at what more can be done.
(Liverpool, Wavertree)
(Lab)
T7. Last week we saw, for a second year running, rough sleeping
numbers up by more than a quarter—that is a lot of people to
criminalise if the Criminal Justice Bill remains unamended. More
than 100,000 households, including 140,000 children, find
themselves stuck in temporary accommodation, yet the mere mention
of temporary accommodation sees Ministers pivot away from the
subject entirely. This should be a source of shame for this
Government. So where is the national plan to end all forms of
homelessness? I sincerely hope it is not in the same place as the
Government’s plan for ending section 21 evictions.(901791)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities ()
This Government have a clear plan that we introduced last year:
ending rough sleeping for good. We announced £2 billion behind it
and the figure is now £2.4 billion. We are giving unprecedented
amounts of money to this very important task.
(Halesowen and Rowley Regis)
(Con)
Haden Hill leisure centre in my constituency is to be part
rebuilt and part refurbished by a £20 million investment from the
levelling-up fund. Does the Minister agree that the Department
needs to continue to be engaged with the local authority, which
is appointing contractors, to make sure that this project gets
delivered on time and on budget?
My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion for his constituents. I am
happy to meet him to discuss the delays as soon as we can. The
project adjustment process is available to the council if it
needs to use it.
(Bradford South) (Lab)
T9. In 2010, total wealth per head in the north of England was
16% lower than in the rest of England. Last week, the Institute
for Public Policy Research released a report that estimated that
by 2030, this gap will have grown to 21%. Can the Secretary of
State confirm that this Government’s policies have achieved
levelling up?(901793)
I was delighted to be in West Yorkshire on Friday outlining the
additional investment that we are making in that region. The
agreement that we have reached with the Mayor of West Yorkshire,
, will see significant
additional funds going in to help with housing, adult skills and
transport, all of which will contribute to a revolution in
devolution that has occurred under this Conservative
Government.
(Mid Norfolk) (Con)
Rural areas are particularly vulnerable to the high energy costs
we have seen in the last two years. They are 150% more vulnerable
to fuel poverty. Does my right hon. Friend agree that councils on
the frontline of high rural costs are seeing a spate of
homelessness? Great councils, such as Breckland Council in my
patch, are now spending 50% of their net budget on relief. Would
he support me in urging the Chancellor to increase that relief in
the Budget on Wednesday?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. We are concentrating on
ensuring we can level up the north and the midlands, but we also
need to recognise that levelling up encompasses making sure that
those in rural areas, who contribute so much to the life of our
nation, are supported through the challenges that the cost of
living crisis has generated.
(Strangford) (DUP)
Will the Minister advise me how many people took up the offer of
the former help to buy ISA scheme? Has another such scheme been
considered to allow young people to get on the seemingly
impossible first rung of the property ladder?
As a Government, we continue to bring forward as many
interventions as we can to support young people to get on the
housing ladder. Some 800,000 first-time buyers have managed to do
that since 2010. I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to talk
more about the points he has made.
Sir (Northampton North) (Con)
Today, the Charity Commission issued new guidance for charities
that refuse to accept donations. That comes after the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution turned down a donation from
Dungarvan Foxhounds Supporters Club in the Republic of Ireland.
Declining a donation from a lawful source may not be consistent
with the legal duty of trustees to “further their charity’s
purpose”. Will my right hon. Friend support the right of
communities throughout the British Isles to donate to charities
of their choice?
My right hon. and learned Friend, the former Attorney General,
raises a very important point. We want to do everything we can to
encourage charitable giving. I will look closely at the case he
mentions, and raise it with the Cabinet Office and Orlando Fraser
KC, the distinguished chair of the Charity Commission, who is
doing such a good job.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
There are businesses in York that have not been able to trade for
over four months because of flooding. The flood recovery
framework precludes them from getting funds, whereas those in the
Tory shires are able to access funds. Will the Minister meet me
to discuss the fact that businesses in my constituency cannot get
funding? Let us find a way forward so that they do not miss
out.
Yes.
(Thornbury and Yate) (Con)
Councillors will not be covered by the newly passed Neonatal Care
(Leave and Pay) Act 2023 and are at risk of losing extra
responsibility allowances if they have a child who spends time in
neonatal care. Will the local government Minister issue guidance
to councils, asking them to ensure that all parents are protected
if their councillors find themselves in those most difficult of
circumstances?
My hon. Friend has worked on this campaign. We spoke about it
last week and I understand entirely the merits of the argument he
makes. So powerful is he as an advocate that I have already put
work in hand to deliver what he is talking about.
(Tiverton and Honiton)
(LD)
On the community ownership fund, it is welcome that the match
funding requirements for local organisations have been reduced to
20%. In future rounds, could the criterion around match funding
take account of prior investment by the community, such as the
very many small donations that people in the Axe valley area gave
to build Seaton community hospital?
That is an interesting idea. I am very fond of the Axe valley, so
I will look at it.
(The Wrekin) (Con)
1244 was the date of the first market charter awarded to
Wellington in Shropshire, in my constituency. In the last three
years, £3 million from the towns fund, £10 million from the
levelling-up fund and £800,000 from a fund I cannot remember have
provided record investment from this Government into the
800-year-old market town of Wellington. The Labour council has
just taken over the market, so will the Secretary of State please
ensure that the council do not mess it up?
We will do everything we can. Wellington is very lucky to have
such a brilliant advocate. I hope my right hon. Friend sits on
the green Benches for many years to come, but when he is
transferred to another place, he deserves to be the next .
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