Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Social Housing

Monday 19 July 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government published the social housing White Paper in November 2020
  • Labour councils were urged to provide more high-quality social housing without waiting for legislation
  • Since 2010, 365,800 affordable homes for rent have been delivered, including 148,000 for social rent

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Housing
Context

The question concerns the progress made since the publication of the social housing Green Paper in 2018. The MP is asking about concrete actions taken to improve social housing.

Question

What progress has been made on the Government's new deal for social housing since the publication of the social housing Green Paper in 2018?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

We listened to thousands of residents in 2018 and acted decisively, publishing the social housing White Paper last November. We have strengthened the housing ombudsman service, run a complaints awareness campaign and taken important steps to improve safety and decency, including launching the review of the decent homes standard, reviewing electrical safety and consulting on smoke alarms and carbon monoxide measures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific commitments or timelines for future actions beyond mentioning past initiatives.

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Q2 Mick Whitley
Housing
Context

The question addresses the failure of the social housing White Paper to deliver on promises made in 2017 and the impact of planning reforms. The MP is asking for concrete steps to address the urgent need for new, sustainable social housing.

Question

What steps are being taken to build the social housing that people up and down the country desperately need?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

First, and perhaps most importantly, it might be helpful if Labour-run councils such as Croydon were providing high-quality social housing—that would be incredibly helpful. We do not need Government legislation for them to be able to do that. We do not need to wait for Government legislation; I have already convened a meeting of the social housing White Paper challenge panel, with representatives from across the sector and, more importantly, tenants' representatives, to hear what they need. As we have heard earlier, this Government are also investing £11.5 billion in building new affordable homes.

Not addressed: The answer shifts focus away from concrete steps by criticizing Labour-run councils and the MP rather than addressing the question of specific actions to build social housing.

How: Criticizing Opposition, Shifting Blame

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Q3 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Housing
Context

The question discusses the negative impacts of overcrowded homes on health during lockdown. The MP is concerned about the loss of more social homes than are being built.

Question

What plans does the Minister have to reverse the trend whereby we are losing more social homes than we are building?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

I think the simple answer to that is that since 2010 we have delivered 365,800 affordable homes for rent, of which 148,000 are for social rent.

Not addressed: The answer provides a general statistic but does not address the specific request to reverse the trend of losing more social homes than being built.

How: Providing Unrelated Statistics

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