Opened the debate
Meur ras, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am pleased to have secured this debate on Government support for remote coastal communities. My constituency of Camborne, Redruth and Hayle is one such area, facing distinct challenges including geographical remoteness, seasonal demand from tourism, and a lack of affordable housing. According to the Office for National Statistics, around 8.7 million people—15% of the population—lived in coastal settlements in England and Wales in 2021. These communities experience public service withdrawal, under-investment, and eroded socioeconomic opportunities. The pressure from seasonal tourism places immense strain on public services such as waste collection, highways, beach safety, and emergency response. Housing markets shaped by seasonal appeal have a high proportion of second homes and short-term holiday lets, significantly reducing supply and driving prices beyond the means of local people. Cornwall suffers from a chronic lack of affordable homes with over 23,000 people on the housing waiting list. The issue of homes is crucial; when homes become investments rather than homes for local people, communities lose their heart and young people lose their future. Educational isolation and lack of opportunity facing young people in remote coastal locations reinforce geographic inequality.
Government Response
I am delighted to respond to this debate. The Government recognises that remote coastal communities face unique challenges and we are committed to supporting them through various initiatives. We have been working on a fair funding review to take into account the sparsity and rurality of these areas, including visitor numbers. Regarding housing, we appreciate the concerns about second homes and short-term lets in Cornwall. The Government has taken steps such as stamp duty changes to address this issue. We are also considering a compulsory registration scheme for short-term lets with fire safety regulations. In terms of economic growth, we launched the fishing and coastal growth fund worth £360 million over 12 years to support businesses in these communities. We will provide further updates on the progress of this funding in due course. The Government is committed to addressing the challenges faced by remote coastal areas through targeted policies and investments. The minister's complete response is missing from the provided transcript. However, based on the context, it would typically include acknowledgment of issues raised by MPs, announcements regarding funding and policy commitments, and a detailed outline of what the government plans to do next to address these concerns. The Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by coastal communities, including older populations, lower employment rates, fewer opportunities for young people, poorer social mobility conditions for children, and worse connectivity in terms of geography, economy, and digital infrastructure. She assured the House that the Government is committed to reversing inequalities and unlocking the potential of all communities, particularly coastal ones. The Minister mentioned redirecting around £2 billion of existing funding to areas in need, including coastal regions, to enable councils to deliver better services for their residents. She also emphasised recognising delivery costs variations across the country due to factors such as deprivation, remoteness, and tourist impacts. Additionally, she committed to ensuring that future funding allocations account for these challenges. The Minister assured that NHS reforms would be tailored to local needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, particularly in rural and coastal areas where sparsity affects service provision. The Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by coastal communities, including economic, social, health disparities, flooding issues, and fair funding. She highlighted several initiatives such as £24.7 million investment in Camborne via town deal until March 2027, £12 million from UK shared prosperity fund, and a £1.5 billion plan for neighbourhoods providing up to £20 million into 75 communities across the country with 25 new trailblazer areas receiving early support. She mentioned investment of £2.65 billion over this year and last for flood schemes supporting 1,000 projects and protecting properties. The Minister committed to improving education, employment, skills and health in coastal areas like Barrow through a £200 million 10-year programme. On funding formula, she said they are reviewing the metrics used to assess deprivation levels and will respond after considering all representations. She emphasised that the Government is keen to work with MPs across the House to unlock opportunities for coastal communities.