Affordable and Safe Housing for All

Kevin Hollinrake Con

Thirsk and Malton

Points out that home ownership peaked in 2003 and has been declining since, but is now being reversed through policies such as First homes.

Clive Betts Lab

Sheffield South East

Welcomes the new Labour Front Bench member and questions whether the 'First homes' policy will displace affordable housing for rent due to taking a first slice of section 106 funding.

Tan Dhesi Lab

Slough

Agrees that there has been over a decade of Conservative failures on housing, including decreases in home ownership and increases in rough sleeping and homelessness.

Nigel Evans Con

Cannock South

Provided procedural information about the debate, including a five-minute limit on Back-Bench contributions.

Robert Jenrick Reform

Newark

He welcomes the hon. Member for Manchester Central to the shadow Front Bench but criticises her predecessor's admission of lacking housing policies. He emphasises the need to make difficult choices and not wish more houses into existence, advocating for a property-owning democracy accessible to all. The Secretary cites data showing 244,000 homes delivered last year compared to only 95,000 under Labour in one year of their term. He highlights government initiatives like the mortgage guarantee scheme and affordable home programmes, aiming for a million new homes over this Parliament.

Jim Shannon DUP

Strangford

Mr Shannon queries how to assist first-time buyers in regions experiencing rapid house price increases.

Bob Seely

He asks about freeing up landbanked planning applications and their potential as a quick win for more affordable homes.

Tim Farron Lib Dem

Westmorland and Lonsdale

Mr Farron questions the Secretary on the impact of second-home purchases, expressing concern about communities being deprived of full-time residents and asks what measures will be taken to ensure new homes are lived in.

Clive Betts Lab

Sheffield South East

Mr Betts references Harold Macmillan's tenure and suggests that public sector construction, particularly through housing associations and councils, could contribute significantly to reaching the target of 300,000 homes per year.

Kevin Hollinrake Con

Thirsk and Malton

Mr Hollinrake inquires about the impact of planning reforms on small and medium-sized enterprises which currently build only 23% of new homes compared to 67% three decades ago.

Bob Seely

He advocates for a gradual reform approach over scrapping the current system, suggesting this minimises unforeseen consequences while achieving necessary improvements.

Mark Pawsey

Mr Pawsey asks about support for prefabricated housing to meet the target of 300,000 homes and seeks information on innovative approaches within this sector.

Jo Gideon Con

Stoke-on-Trent Central

As my right hon. Friend will know, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is rightly proud of its record; we build 97% of all new homes on brownfield sites. The latest data shows that the house building sector has bounced back after being temporarily shut down last year. Does he agree that the measures announced in the Queen’s Speech will continue to prioritise building on brownfield land so that we can protect our green fields?

Patricia Gibson SNP

North Ayrshire and Arran

The Government’s plan outlined last week was a disappointment, with no substantial action on issues such as child poverty, social care, fire and rehire practices, unpaid work trials, statutory paid bereavement leave, or measures to protect Scotland's NHS from deregulation and privatization. The proposed electoral integrity Bill could suppress voter participation by requiring photo ID for voting, disproportionately affecting those less likely to vote Tory. Housing must be both safe and affordable: the Scottish Government has provided 100,000 new affordable homes since 2007 and plans another 100,000 by 2032. The Building Safety Bill should not proceed without legislative consent from Scotland due to its impact on devolved areas. Despite the UK Government’s promises, only one third of what has been invested in Scotland is being invested to decarbonise homes. Rent arrears and homelessness have increased during the pandemic; restoring local housing allowance rates could help alleviate these issues but the Government's decision to freeze them exacerbates financial difficulties for renters.

Nigel Evans Without Constituency

Called for remote speakers to have visible timers to adhere to the five-minute time limit during the debate.

Liam Fox

Welcomed the Secretary of State's enthusiasm and creativity in housing policy. Emphasised the balance between encouraging home ownership, maintaining green belt land, and netting off targets against other interests like green belts and floodplains. He highlighted the importance of addressing urban sprawl, promoting regeneration in northern England to alleviate pressure on southern housing markets, opening up competition in house-building, dealing with cladding issues, leasehold reform, and fiscal conservatism.

Clive Betts Lab

Sheffield South East

Discussed the Building Safety Bill and its implementation of Dame Judith's recommendations. Raised concerns about seeing building safety solely in terms of removing dangerous cladding, stressing that buildings may still be unsafe despite cladding removal due to other defects. Highlighted the financial struggles faced by leaseholders and the need for a comprehensive building safety fund paid for initially by the Government and industry. Commented on planning reform, suggesting that local plans should be made statutory and simplified. Raised challenges around public consultation at the local plan stage and questioned the reduction in housing numbers in northern and midland areas outside major cities.

Julian Lewis Con

New Forest East

Mr Lewis highlighted the plight of leaseholders affected by cladding scandals, criticised universities for shutting down free speech, raised concerns about war widows losing their pensions upon remarriage or cohabitation, mentioned the urgent need to resettle Afghan civilians who assisted UK troops, and discussed potential resolutions for Northern Ireland veterans' cases.

Hilary Benn Lab

Leeds South

Mr Benn emphasised the lack of protection for leaseholders from cladding issues in the Queen’s Speech, called for loan funding to fix all fire safety defects and repayment over long term by levying house builders, expressed concern about rent arrears due to COVID-19 with no clear plan to prevent homelessness, and criticised planning Bills that remove power from local communities.

Laura Trott Con

Sevenoaks

Acknowledging her hon. Friend's speech on digital aspects, she asks whether local engagement in planning concerns should be ensured through a digital approach.

Tim Farron Lib Dem

Westmorland and Lonsdale

The planning Bill should address high land values, empower councils to build affordable homes directly in communities, and ensure developers comply with their commitments. The impact of the Government’s immigration changes on the construction workforce has been significant. Developers often fail to deliver affordable housing as promised, leading to a reduction in local population and services like schools, buses, and post offices. The Queen's Speech lacks provisions to tackle second home ownership which undermines community sustainability. Furthermore, the Building Safety Bill should protect victims of the cladding scandal without penalising innocent homeowners.

Several hon. Members

Multiple speakers intervened but no substantial contribution was provided within the given context.

Gary Streeter Con

Teignbridge

Supports the levelling-up agenda and the first homes policy aimed at helping generation rent become homeowners. The affordability gap between property prices and salaries needs to be addressed with consistent intervention to bridge the supply and demand imbalance by building more homes. Supports converting unused office and retail spaces into residential units as a strategic approach to meet housing demands, especially in cities like Plymouth where there is underutilized retail space.

Maria Eagle Lab

Liverpool Garston

The Government’s proposals do not help many of the leaseholders in Liverpool Garston and Halewood in any meaningful way. The Building Safety Bill does nothing to address fire safety issues for buildings under seven storeys, non-cladding remediation costs, soaring insurance costs passed on through service charges, or financial exploitation by unscrupulous freeholders who see leaseholders as cash cows. Leasehold reform is needed but the Government’s Bills do not provide necessary relief.

Andrew Lewer

Housing and adult social care should be a priority for the Government, with innovative solutions such as buyer shared ownership to support older people trading down their homes while funding care. Concerns about the introduction of a levelling-up Bill rather than a devolution Bill are raised, emphasising local government autonomy. The planning Bill is welcomed for its emphasis on SME house builders but needs more detail on renters reform and environmental measures.

Seema Malhotra Lab Co-op

Feltham and Heston

The Queen’s Speech lacks substance on jobs, housing, skills, employment rights and financial inclusion. There is no deadline to make all homes safe for leaseholders, and the Bills do not provide necessary relief or transparency in leasehold systems. The need for an Employment Bill to enhance workers’ rights is highlighted along with reskilling initiatives and financial inclusion for small businesses.

Tony Lloyd Lab

Rochdale

The Queen’s Speech does not address the poverty faced by children in Rochdale where half of them live below the poverty line. The cut in universal credit is detrimental to families and the local economy. Social care funding cuts have impacted quality, and there are no measures against fire and rehire tactics used by large companies. Additionally, there is a lack of plans for retrofitting existing homes to meet carbon neutrality goals by 2050.

Bob Blackman Con

Harrow East

To address the housing market issues, it is crucial to ensure that developers build houses within set deadlines. Suggesting prelegislative scrutiny for the planning Bill could improve it significantly. Social housing targets should be increased and more ambitious policies implemented to make rents affordable without reliance on subsidies. The Government's initiatives like Everyone In are positive steps but need further development. There is also a need to protect leaseholders from exploitative practices by developers.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy Lab

Clapham and Brixton Hill

Existing leaseholders are suffering from high ground rents and unsafe cladding, with many unable to afford necessary safety upgrades or face extortionate insurance costs. In Lambeth alone, 12,000 people are affected by dangerous cladding issues. The Government must provide upfront funding for remediation efforts and ensure that neither interim nor remediation costs fall on leaseholders. Additionally, planning reforms should not weaken local government control over housing development.

John Hayes Con

South Holland and The Deepings

Housing policy must focus on quality alongside quantity to address the public's fear of poorly designed developments. Developers must adhere to rigorous standards, and communities should be involved in planning decisions to enhance local character and charm. Planning reform should streamline the system but maintain high-quality building standards.

John Cryer

Housing now makes up a significant portion of my caseload compared to immigration issues in previous years. In Waltham Forest, there are nearly 10,000 families on the housing waiting list with only around 650 new vacancies annually. This leads to an average wait time of about 14 years for accommodation, often unattainable for many applicants. The number of homeless households in temporary accommodation within Waltham Forest has improved but still stands at over 1,275.

Mark Pawsey Con

Rugby

Welcomes the Gracious Speech focusing on boosting jobs, growth and innovation with a focus on levelling up. Highlights Rugby's housing delivery record of increasing homes by 25% over eight years compared to the national average. Emphasises the importance of plan making as done in Rugby Borough Council for delivering good quality housing developments efficiently. Supports government proposals but highlights potential issues with council tax levies on unbuilt houses and the need for democratic involvement.

Margaret Ferrier Lab

Rottenrow East

Acknowledges work of Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee in scrutinising safe housing plans. Critiques government's failure to address remediation costs passed on to leaseholders in tower blocks with faulty cladding post Grenfell disaster. Urges for a comprehensive building safety fund funded by the UK Government and industry to ensure residents are not financially ruined over issues they did not cause.

David Morris Con

Morecambe and Lunesdale

Shares tragic incident in his constituency where an explosion killed a two-year-old boy, injured his parents and others. Praises emergency services' quick response and community's support for the affected families. Highlights the importance of government proposals to ensure safe homes for all residents.

Catherine McKinnell Lab

Newcastle upon Tyne North

Expresses concern over the current planning system and proposed reforms, highlighting issues such as insufficient infrastructure in housing developments and potential closures of community facilities. She urges the Government to incentivise affordable homes and prioritise early-stage development of essential services and infrastructure.

Bob Seely

Supports a community-led planning agenda but expresses reservations about scrapping the current system entirely, advocating for reform instead. Highlights specific examples where local democracy is undermined by property developers and proposes several ideas to improve the system, including land-banking measures, environmental considerations, and affordable development.

Yvonne Fovargue Lab

Makerfield

Welcomed the idea of a renters' reform Bill but raised concerns about household debt and proposed legislation to protect access to cash, online scams, and competition policy. Emphasised the need for a coherent approach to handling debt.

Damien Moore Con

Southport

Complimented his colleague on her speech about levelling up the north of England and highlighted steps taken by the Government, including reforming the planning system, converting flats above shops, and encouraging more people to live in town centres.

Rushanara Ali Lab

Bethnal Green and Stepney

Expressed disappointment at the lack of ambitious measures for social and affordable housing. Highlighted overcrowding issues exacerbating health risks, called for proper funding to empower local authorities in building more homes, and stressed the urgency in addressing cladding crisis.

John Howell Con

Henley

Mr. Howell draws attention to his entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests and expresses pride in introducing neighbourhood planning, which he views as a success for communities. He urges the Government to resolve issues related to neighbourhood plans and emphasises their role in producing affordable housing while respecting local community participation. He criticises district councils for complicating the process but praises the Planning Inspectorate's commitment to uphold these plans. Mr. Howell suggests that future planning reforms should focus on simplifying processes, using mediation techniques, and prioritising design.

Kerry McCarthy Lab

Bristol East

Ms. McCarthy expresses disappointment in the lack of ambition from the Government regarding social care and housing issues highlighted by the Queen’s Speech. She criticises the proposed planning reforms as potentially sidelining communities and eroding green space protections without guaranteeing affordable housing. In Bristol, she highlights the need for new affordable homes while emphasising ecological conservation efforts. Ms. McCarthy advocates for local decision-making over developer-led initiatives and criticises the Government's environmental policies, including their handling of the Environment Bill and animal sentience legislation. She also denounces voter ID proposals as undemocratic.

Brendan Clarke-Smith

Mr. Clarke-Smith emphasises the importance of home ownership for today’s young people and families in the context of changing housing dynamics since the 1950s. He praises initiatives like Margaret Thatcher's right to buy scheme but acknowledges current challenges with low homeownership rates among younger generations. He supports schemes such as shared ownership, Help to Buy, and new mortgage offerings to aid first-time buyers. Mr. Clarke-Smith emphasises building high-quality family homes that are affordable without compromising standards, advocating for good neighbourhood plans to guide development.

Stewart McDonald SNP

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

Welcomed new Member to the Chamber, acknowledged government's efforts for COP26, criticised proposals for voter ID as a 'fraud', discussed unpaid work trials and furlough payments issues.

Crispin Blunt Con

Reigate

Emphasised importance of planning to the constituency, warned against developer influence on planning system, highlighted need for national debate on housing and levelling-up, mentioned concerns over building safety fund affecting leaseholders.

Rosie Winterton

Announced Ian Mearns' re-election as Chair of the Backbench Business Committee.

Rebecca Long-Bailey Lab

Salford

Critiqued Queen's Speech for failing to address social housing shortages, lack of protection for renters and residents affected by fire safety issues, called for investment in social rented homes, support for tenants in pandemic arrears, remediation deadlines and up-front funding.

Craig Williams Con

Montgomeryshire

Welsh MP Craig Williams expressed envy towards the reforms in the Queen’s Speech regarding the housing market, especially for renters. He highlighted the stark contrast between Wales and England where housing has stagnated under Labour control for 22 years. Emphasising the need to reduce the brain drain from rural areas like Montgomeryshire, he supported building more homes at a rate not seen since devolution's start.

Naseem Shah Lab

Bradford West

Labour MP Naseem Shah criticised the Queen’s Speech for failing to address post-pandemic challenges and historical inequalities. He also denounced UK foreign policy regarding Palestine, urging the Government to recognise Palestinian suffering and the necessity of addressing apartheid-like conditions in Israel-Palestine relations. Shah called for an independent investigation by the International Criminal Court and a review of arms licences used against Palestinians.

James Sunderland Con

Bracknell

Conservative MP James Sunderland welcomed the Planning Bill but emphasised the importance of building affordable homes in areas with land capacity. He criticised forced developments on green belts and called for a new formula focusing on residual land availability. He also stressed the need to utilise currently unoccupied properties, protect farmland from development, and allow local councils autonomy over planning decisions.

Ellie Reeves Lab

Lewisham West and East Dulwich

The speaker emphasises the dire situation facing many families in temporary accommodation due to overcrowding, disrepair, and the threat of eviction. She criticises the Queen's Speech for failing to address these issues adequately, especially regarding section 21 evictions and social housing regulation.

Jack Lopresti

Lopresti argues that unaffordable housing is tearing apart our social contract. He calls for more ambitious targets in house building to address the growing need, referencing historical achievements by Conservative governments and criticising recent underperformance. The speaker also highlights the inconsistency among MPs who claim they want affordable local homes but oppose developments in their areas.

Derek Thomas

Thomas advocates for greener housing as part of 'building back better'. He discusses the importance of reducing emissions from buildings, which account for 14% of UK emissions. The speaker calls for stronger environmental standards and a focus on skills training for a green workforce to drive innovation in home construction.

Yasmin Qureshi Lab

Bolton South and Walkden

Discussed the difficulties faced by intergenerational households in her constituency, highlighting overcrowded living conditions due to unaffordable housing and insecure work. Criticised the government's support for those self-isolating as inadequate and difficult to access, and raised concerns about vaccine roll-out inefficiencies.

Rob Butler

Welcomed the Queen’s Speech, focusing on building back better from the pandemic with an emphasis on a property-owning democracy. Highlighted housing affordability issues in his constituency of Aylesbury and proposed regeneration ideas for town centres while preserving green spaces.

Fabian Hamilton Lab

Leeds North East

Argued that housing has become unaffordable, proposing a national housing investment bank to fund passive house model developments. Emphasised the potential economic benefits and environmental savings of such an initiative.

Mark Fletcher

Welcomed the Queen’s Speech for its focus on recovery and delivery of manifesto commitments. Highlighted the importance of affordable housing in his constituency of Bolsover, stressing the need for sustainable communities with skilled jobs and education opportunities.

Matt Western Lab

Warwick and Leamington

Critiqued the Queen’s Speech for its lack of ambition on housing crisis, highlighted a reduction in social rent homes since 2010, called for more investment in council housing stock, pointed out that there is barely any focus on social care and climate change in the speech.

Eleanor Laing

Cautioned against mentioning Her Majesty’s opinions on political matters during debates.

Laura Trott Con

Sevenoaks

Defended the Queen's Speech, highlighting environmental achievements and balancing green space protection with housing needs. Supported streamlining local planning processes to avoid technicalities that hinder development.

Kenny MacAskill

Stressed the critical importance of housing during a coronavirus recession and climate change threat, discussed progress made by the Scottish Government on social rent and new home building targets, called for increased funding and borrowing powers to address the housing crisis.

Stuart Anderson Con

South Shropshire

Welcomed the move of a second office of MHCLG to Wolverhampton, highlighted the importance of brownfield-first development in Wolverhampton, supported planning reforms that aim to protect green spaces while providing affordable housing.

Kate Osamor Lab Co-op

Edmonton and Winchmore Hill

The Queen’s Speech has failed to address the urgent needs of my constituents in Edmonton, who face high unemployment, low wages, poverty, and unaffordable housing. The Government must act now to reduce inequality and provide support for those living in unsafe buildings, offer rent relief, scrap no-fault evictions, give the Mayor powers to introduce rent controls, and reverse budget cuts affecting local authorities.

Gary Sambrook

Welcomes measures in the Queen’s Speech that will enable more people to get on the property ladder. Criticises Labour-run Birmingham City Council for building on green open spaces while allowing housing estates to sit empty and advocates for brownfield site development. Supports the Government's ambition to build good-quality, decent homes as seen in Bournville and highlights issues with procurement processes that inflate costs.

Andy Carter

Supports initiatives aimed at making home ownership more accessible but emphasises the need for affordability and construction of approved developments. Advocates for prioritising brownfield sites during planning, ensuring accurate economic needs assessments based on recent data, and reforming leasehold practices to benefit those affected by long-term decisions.

Matt Rodda Lab

Reading Central

I express deep concerns about the Government’s planning Bill which threatens to undermine local control over town planning, favouring developers. The bill risks green sites development leading to increased traffic and pollution in Reading. It also fails to address issues like unwanted developments by irresponsible landlords in urban areas. Furthermore, it does not adequately support brownfield site development despite their crucial role in regeneration.

Jane Hunt

Welcomes planning reform aimed at faster delivery of homes and infrastructure while maintaining local character. Advocates for more community involvement in the planning process to address housing needs without imposing them on neighbouring areas unwillingly. Highlights affordability challenges with house prices significantly higher than median earnings, emphasising the need for reforms such as affordable home programmes and mortgage guarantee schemes.

Alyn Smith

Compares Scottish Government's achievements in affordable housing to England's, highlighting initiatives like the first home fund that have helped thousands of people. Criticises UK Government’s approach to poverty reduction and welfare measures such as the freezing of local housing allowance and continuation of the bedroom tax, which exacerbate homelessness and rent arrears.

Jane Stevenson Con

Wolverhampton South East

Welcomes the establishment of a Ministry in Wolverhampton and highlights its commitment to level up opportunity across the UK. Commends the Government's aims to improve planning, modernise construction methods, and protect green spaces while ensuring home ownership for many more people. Expresses concerns about brownfield policy and the threat to green belt land at the borders of Black Country.

Abena Oppong-Asare Lab

Erith and Thamesmead

Discusses the housing crisis affecting constituents, including overcrowded living conditions, high rents in private rentals, dangerous flats for leaseholders, and being priced out of local areas. Criticises the Government's Planning Bill for taking power away from local communities and hindering social housing efforts. Advocates for a Social Housing Bill to prioritise safety and regulate the private rental market.

Jack Brereton Con

Stoke-on-Trent Central

Highlights the importance of brownfield-first approach in Stoke-on-Trent, which has built more homes than average London boroughs despite viability challenges. Welcomes Government funding and investment to overcome remediation constraints and convert empty town centre properties for new uses. Emphasises the need for better-paid work opportunities through skills development and improved transport planning.

Janet Daby Lab

Lewisham East

A home is supposed to be a special place, but for many it is not. My constituent's experience with flammable cladding and inability to sell her flat due to lack of EWS1 form highlights the issues faced by many in terms of fire safety and unsellable homes. This hardship has severe mental health impacts. The local housing allowance remains inadequate and people struggle to find affordable accommodation. There is a rise in food banks, cuts to public services, and difficulties for young people and families to afford their first home. New green homes are needed with support for the market. The Government must prioritise safety and address issues from fire safety scandals to homelessness, improving quality of life and responding to climate change.

Angela Richardson

Welcomes the Government's ambition to build homes, including affordable homes, to help first-time buyers and strengthen social fabric. Commends commitment on locally decided design codes, tree-lined streets, and net zero homes. However, expresses concerns over planning and infrastructure in villages like Alfold and Cranleigh due to lack of transport links, crumbling water infrastructure, and building on flood plains. Calls for review of local plans and the A3 tunnel project in Guildford to improve air quality and address road capacity issues.

Tan Dhesi Lab

Slough

Expresses disappointment with lack of a plan from the Government to rebuild after the pandemic. Highlights housing crisis, education disruption, job market challenges, support for those on universal credit facing real-terms cuts, underfunding of NHS workers, issues in transport like Hitachi trains and western rail link, and social care needs. Criticises the Queen's Speech for failing to address these critical areas.

Lia Nici

Supports the Queen’s Speech and focuses on aspects that will benefit her constituency of Great Grimsby. Welcomes the modern Planning Bill and levelling-up White Paper. Explains levelling up means improved skills, jobs, affordable homes, and safer streets for residents in contrast to years of neglect under Labour leadership. Mentions work with East Marsh area focusing on increased home ownership and job skill acquisition.

Sam Tarry Lab

Ilford South

This Gracious Speech was an opportunity to tackle the housing crisis by reforming planning regimes and addressing right-to-buy policies. In Ilford South, there are over 13,000 households on the council waiting list, with only 306 affordable homes built in 2019. Tenants face insurmountable costs due to unsafe cladding, with many losing their life savings. Labour tabled a motion earlier this year to address these issues but the Government failed to act.

Anna McMorrin Lab

Cardiff North

The Queen’s Speech was a missed opportunity to invest in green jobs, welfare security and to end fire and rehire tactics. It offered nothing for the 3 million excluded from support measures and failed to address systemic issues such as levelling up and climate action. In contrast, the Welsh Labour Government has protected jobs, created apprenticeships and implemented free school meals during holidays.

Steve Reed Lab Co-op

Streatham and Croydon North

The Government's proposed planning reform Bill is facing significant opposition, both within the House of Commons and among the general public. There are real issues with the current system, including a lack of affordable housing, declining trust in the fairness and democracy of the planning process, and the frustration felt by communities who feel powerless to influence decisions affecting their neighbourhoods. However, the Government's reforms exacerbate these problems rather than addressing them, deregulating the existing system and removing democratic control from local councils, handing it over to development boards appointed by Ministers in Whitehall.

Christopher Pincher Con

Bocking

The Government are committed to building back better, fairer and safer. They aim to address the slow pace of planning by mandating councils to have up-to-date local plans. The new Planning Bill aims to replace the current system with a modern, map-based approach. Emphasising affordable housing, they plan to invest £12 billion for 180,000 new homes, including 32,000 for social rent. Policies such as Help to Buy and first home discounts are being expanded to increase home ownership among young people. Additionally, the building safety Bill will enhance building regulations and address cladding issues.

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Affordable and Safe Housing for All

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