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National Plan to End Homelessness 2025-12-11
11 December 2025
Lead MP
The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Housing
Other Contributors: 19
At a Glance
The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness raised concerns about national plan to end homelessness 2025-12-11 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
I would like to make a statement to the House about the publication of our national plan to end homelessness. This Labour Government inherited a homelessness crisis, with rough sleeping and households in temporary accommodation increasing drastically from 2010. The strategy outlines tangible actions and targets for delivery this Parliament, including building 1.5 million new homes, eliminating the use of bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) for families by the end of this Parliament, and investing £37 million to support recovery from homelessness. We are also providing additional funding through the Homelessness Prevention Grant with an extra £50 million top-up this year, aiming for a total investment of £1 billion in homelessness services this year alone. The plan sets out national targets including ending the use of B&Bs, halving long-term rough sleeping and increasing prevention rates.
Gareth Bacon
Con
Orpington
Question
Thanking the Minister for her remarks and acknowledging the significant issue of homelessness, Gareth Bacon highlights that although progress was made under the previous Government, more work remains to be done. He emphasises the importance of addressing long-term causes such as mental health issues, substance abuse, and support for young people leaving care.
Minister reply
The Minister did not provide a direct response but highlighted the comprehensive approach to tackling homelessness through cross-departmental working, increasing funding, and implementing measures like StreetLink to provide quicker support to those in need.
Florence Eshalomi MP
Lab/Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
The Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee welcomed the statement but highlighted pressures on London councils facing £5 million a day costs due to temporary accommodation. She asked about local housing allowance rates and whether the Minister had discussed this with colleagues in other Departments.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged council funding inadequacies and the impact of TA costs on council budgets, stressing the need for action to improve family incomes. She mentioned cross-departmental efforts including discussions with DWP and Treasury but emphasised that addressing social housing shortages is crucial.
Taunton and Wellington
Question
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson welcomed the statement and additional funding but urged for increasing the social housing target. He inquired about timelines for Vagrancy Act repeal, local housing allowance updates, and exemptions from shared accommodation rates.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked Amos for his questions and confirmed that there are existing exemptions to the shared accommodation rate and ongoing work on the Vagrancy Act repeal. She reiterated her commitment to improving family incomes through steps taken in the child poverty strategy.
Sean Woodcock MP
Lab
Banbury
Question
Welcoming the strategy, Sean Woodcock asked for details on how the Government plans to accelerate home delivery, particularly in areas facing infrastructure issues.
Minister reply
The Minister welcomed Woodcock’s support and expressed her intention to visit Banbury soon. She highlighted the Planning and Infrastructure Bill progressing through Parliament, aimed at speeding up housing delivery, including social homes.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
We need a massive house building programme, but there is a real lack of confidence in all this. The public see our own people on the streets without proper housing while illegal migrants are held comfortably, leading to questions about robustness and priorities.
Minister reply
The strategy aims to secure borders, tackle criminality, reduce backlogs of cases, and support genuine refugees. We want to ensure that councils have resources to acquire better accommodation for those in need.
Anneliese Dodds
Lab/Co-op
Oxford East
Question
Commends Oxford city council’s plan to purchase 260 additional homes and asks what the Minister will do to back such initiatives and preserve councils’ ability to impose requirements on developers for social accommodation.
Minister reply
I join in commending Oxford city council’s plans. We must get kids out of unsuitable B&B accommodation into better places through the £950 million local authority housing fund, encouraging all local authorities to take similar action.
Rebecca Smith
Con
South West Devon
Question
Highlights pressures on the private rented sector due to Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and asks about funding for Plymouth city council's efforts to eliminate B&B use as part of the child poverty strategy.
Minister reply
We are introducing an end to section 21 evictions, which contribute to homelessness. Any area needs a mix of housing so that people can have choice and good communities around them.
Sarah Russell
Lab
Congleton
Question
Asks about specific targets for reducing school days missed by children in temporary accommodation and data transparency for tracking outcomes over time.
Minister reply
The Department for Education is introducing the unique identifier to track this properly. The ambition would be zero days lost; we need to get work with DfE under way to plot a course through the action plan.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Question
Asks about considerations in the strategy for van dwellers, many of whom are vulnerable or simply cannot afford rent, and requests a meeting to discuss this ongoing crisis.
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Lady for her input into the strategy on behalf of her constituents; I would be happy to arrange a meeting.
Danny Beales
Lab
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Question
Draws attention to ending discharging people back to streets from hospitals, suggesting NHS trusts should start accurately counting those in hospital who are homeless and support teams like Pathways need to be rolled out.
Minister reply
We have been working with NHS colleagues on these issues. He demonstrates expertise both from life experience and the work done; I trust he will use his place on Health and Social Care Committee to hold us all accountable.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Question
Welcomes ambition to end homelessness, pays tribute to local organisations working hard to end rough sleeping and asks how the strategy and resources will support their efforts.
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Three-year settlements ensure predictability helping councils and voluntary sector organisations engage more in preventive work.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Mid Cheshire
Question
Welcomes strategy as a good first step, focusing on prevention and the duty to collaborate with new money for supported housing; asks about monitoring success of this element.
Minister reply
There is extra money for supported housing in the strategy, we will be monitoring its success. We are also investing more now to help councils respond to the crisis while having long-term objectives.
Robert Jenrick
Con
Question
The MP asks about the legal basis for postponing local elections and expresses concern over the impact of housing associations on tenant security. He also mentions Shelter’s estimate that nearly 400,000 people are homeless.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges concerns raised by the MP regarding housing associations and their treatment of residents, promising to work closely with him to address these issues.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
The MP emphasises the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017's success in preventing homelessness. He also calls for immediate implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act and mentions Housing First, a successful model that puts a roof over people’s heads before building support networks.
Minister reply
The Minister thanks the MP for his work on this issue and agrees to collaborate with him. She notes plans for cross-ministerial work led by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury regarding value-for-money in housing support services.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
Question
The MP shares his personal experience with homelessness as a child and highlights the importance of ending the unlawful practice of placing children in B&Bs. He asks for a timeline to achieve this.
Minister reply
The Minister assures that the use of B&B accommodation will be ended by the end of Parliament, except in extreme cases, due to the existing law which prohibits long-term stays in such conditions.
David Williams
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent North
Question
The MP discusses his background working for the YMCA and highlights the negative consequences of Conservative cuts on rough sleeping. He supports organisations led by people with lived experience to shape local services.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees that input from individuals with lived experiences is crucial, as evidenced in the foreword written by such individuals who not only shared their stories but also shaped policy.
Lauren Sullivan
Lab
Gravesham
Question
The MP welcomes the additional funds for expanding council homes and invites the Minister to visit Gravesham to see its ambitious plans.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees to cross-ministerial work on value-for-money issues and offers to visit Gravesham.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
Question
The MP expresses his support for the strategy, particularly ending the use of B&Bs for families. He mentions a complex case in Morley where someone is sleeping in shop doors.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees to meet with the MP regarding the specific case and ensure that it falls under the new strategy.
Scott Arthur
Lab
Edinburgh South West
Question
The MP discusses Scotland's housing emergency worsened by budget cuts, highlighting Edinburgh’s use of tourist tax to build houses for homeless people. He also asks about connecting veterans' homelessness support with the MOD.
Minister reply
The Minister supports Scotland's ambition and emphasises collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and her team in preventing veterans from experiencing homelessness.
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