Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Furniture Poverty

Monday 28 October 2024 · 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Eight percent of families in the UK are in deep furniture poverty.
  • The Minister agreed to meet Danny Beales and the End Furniture Poverty campaign.
  • The Government is addressing barriers for care-experienced young people in accessing the private rented sector through various schemes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Danny Beales Lab Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Housing Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the high rate of furniture poverty, affecting eight percent of families in the country. It includes personal observations of constituents' inability to have basic amenities due to lack of essential items.

Question

I welcome that response. Eight per cent of families in this country are in deep furniture poverty. I have seen at first hand the impact of that: people are unable to have a hot meal without a microwave or a cooker and are unable to have a decent night's sleep without a bed—they sleep on the floor with a mattress or a duvet. Will my hon. Friend meet me and the End Furniture Poverty campaign to discuss what more we can do as a Government locally and nationally to tackle this issue?

Answer from Rushanara Ali

My hon. Friend makes important points about the impact of the lack of these essential items through poverty, and I am happy to meet him and the End Furniture Poverty campaign.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions or commitments on tackling furniture poverty are not provided.

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Q2 Danny Beales Lab Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Economy Housing Children & Families
Context

The question is prompted by the issue of furniture poverty affecting a significant percentage of families, which impacts their ability to have basic living amenities.

Question

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on reducing levels of furniture poverty.

Answer from Rushanara Ali

We regularly discuss a wide range of topics with ministerial colleagues, including the important matter of tackling poverty, and we also have the ministerial child poverty taskforce. The lack of furniture and other goods is an issue for many people in our country and it contributes to poor outcomes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific discussions on reducing levels of furniture poverty are not detailed.

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Q3 Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon
Housing
Context

The question arises from the barriers that care-experienced young people face in accessing private rented accommodation, particularly through deposit and guarantor requirements.

Question

Clearly, people need a home to be able to furnish it in the first place, so what action is being taken across Government to address the barriers that care-experienced young people face in accessing the private rented sector, including through guarantor and deposit schemes?

Answer from Rushanara Ali

As the hon. Member will be aware, we have a plan to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, and the Deputy Prime Minister is leading the ministerial taskforce on ending homelessness. My colleagues have highlighted the work that we are doing to build 1.5 million homes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions for care-experienced young people accessing private rented sector are not detailed.

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