Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 28 October 2024 · 18 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Lisa Smart (Hazel Grove) asked for clarity on the Government's next steps in social housing, affordable homes programme funding, and reforming right to buy. The Chancellor will confirm funding for these initiatives in the upcoming Budget.
  • Lisa Smart (Hazel Grove) asked when the Government would deliver on their manifesto commitment to roll out votes at 16 across the United Kingdom. The Government are committed to this and will ensure it happens before the next general election.
  • Helena Dollimore (Hastings and Rye) asked how constituents can get their money back and how to prevent such funds from being wasted again. The Government are working to maximise remaining funding and moving towards multi-year funding settlements to end competitive bidding for pots of money.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lisa Smart Lib Dem Hazel Grove
Housing
Context

The Liberal Democrat member is seeking clarity on the government's plans and commitments as part of her departmental responsibilities.

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The questioner seeks clarity on the Government's next steps in social housing, affordable homes programme funding, and reforming right to buy.

Answer from Angela Rayner

This week's Budget will set out our next steps to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable house building. The Chancellor will confirm funding for the affordable homes programme, new social housing projects, and a consultation on long-term social housing rent settlement.

Answered
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Q2 Lisa Smart Lib Dem Hazel Grove
Democracy & Elections
Context

The Liberal Democrat member highlights the disparity in voting rights for 16 and 17-year-olds across different regions of the UK, referencing a manifesto promise to deliver votes at 16.

Question

Hazel Grove's 16 and 17 year-olds are articulate and vocal about what they need from the government. When will the Government correct this imbalance by delivering on their manifesto commitment to roll out votes at 16 across the United Kingdom?

Answer from Angela Rayner

This Government are committed to our manifesto commitment to give votes at 16 and will ensure that this happens before the next general election.

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Q3 Helena Dollimore Labour (Co-op) Hastings and Rye
Economy Local Government
Context

The project received £400,000 of taxpayer money under the Conservatives' levelling up towns fund. However, the amusement centre in Hastings town centre has closed shortly after opening.

Question

How can my constituents get their money back and how can we ensure that such funds are not wasted again?

Answer from Alex Norris

My officials are working with the council to maximise remaining funding available from its town deal. We are calling time on waste from the previous Government, moving towards multi-year funding settlements and ending competitive bidding for pots of money.

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Q4 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
Housing
Context

The Conservative member highlights revelations about a Labour Member who is letting out mouldy homes with infestation and owns an unsafe private care home where children have gone missing.

Question

Do the Government have plans to tackle rogue landlords on their own Benches?

Answer from Alex Norris

As I understand it, the Member for Ilford South says there have been no conflicts of interest and that all interests have been declared in line with his council's rules.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific plans to tackle rogue landlords on their own Benches

How: Referencing The Member'S Statement

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Q5 Kemi Badenoch Con North West Essex
Local Government
Context

The Conservative member questions whether reducing the capacity of councils by allowing workers an additional paid day off each week is acceptable or provides good value for money.

Question

Does reducing the capacity of councils by 20% through flexible working provide good value for taxpayers or residents?

Answer from Angela Rayner

We advocate for flexible working, which is no threat to business or the economy. We do not dictate how councils run their services but work with them to ensure productivity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific plans or details about reducing council service capacities

How: Working With Councils, Advocacy For Flexible Working

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Q6 Darren Paffey Lab Southampton Itchen
Housing
Context

The Labour member mentions that Southampton Itchen has the worst cases of unsafe cladding in Hampshire, with residents unable to move out or sell their properties.

Question

What is being done to ensure developers and freeholders complete urgent fire safety work while protecting leaseholders from excessive costs?

Answer from Alex Norris

We are clear that the pace of remediation has been too slow. We will meet developers to agree a plan for accelerating work in coming weeks, and I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss these issues further.

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Q7 Vikki Slade Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The Liberal Democrat member highlights misconceptions about councils' ability to flex business rates and own properties, questioning the timeline for reforming business rates.

Question

When will there be a timeline for reform of business rates and assurance that existing reliefs will remain?

Answer from Alex Norris

With less than 48 hours before the fiscal event, I cannot pre-empt the Chancellor. However, we will provide tools like high street rental auctions or community right to buy for communities to control their high streets again.

Partly answered

Not addressed: providing a clear timeline for business rates reform

How: Less Than 48 Hours Before Fiscal Event

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Q8 Sojan Joseph Lab Ashford
Business & Trade Local Government
Context

The Labour member meets local businesses to discuss attracting more people to visit Ashford's high streets and seeks government action for regeneration.

Question

What actions are the Government taking to regenerate local high streets, and will the Minister meet me to further discuss this issue?

Answer from Alex Norris

We want our high streets thriving. We give communities tools like high street rental auctions or community right to buy to reshape their high streets, pushing back on decline.

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Q9 Gareth Bacon Con Orpington
Housing
Context

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has called for rent controls in Greater London.

Question

Why does Sadiq Khan want to impose rent controls? He cannot do that unless the Government change the law. Whenever it has been tried around the world it has failed, typically with rental property supply falling and rents perversely rising. Will the Secretary of State take this opportunity now to rule out the possibility of imposing rent controls in Greater London?

Answer from Matthew Pennycook

As the shadow Minister will know from our exchanges in the Renters' Rights Bill Committee, the Government have absolutely no plans to introduce rent controls in any form.

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Q10 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Employment
Context

The Labour Government has delivered the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation.

Question

In the first 100 days of a Labour Government, the Secretary of State has delivered the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation. Can she update the House on her work in supporting the new deal for working people?

Answer from Angela Rayner

The new deal for working people is contained in the Employment Rights Bill, which had its Second Reading last week. We will continue to push forward other measures that do not require legislation, but what we hope to see is a new culture between business, trade unions and local communities to ensure that work really does pay.

Partly answered

How: Will Focus On

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Q11 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Taxation Local Government
Context

Ministers recognise the financial pressures being placed on local authorities.

Question

Ministers have acknowledged in reply to earlier questions that they recognise the financial pressures being placed on local authorities, especially in connection with children's services and adult social care. Whatever may or may not be in the Budget, can the Minister reassure council tax payers that they will not bear an undue burden as a result of any changes?

Answer from Jim McMahon

This Government are acutely aware of the impact of the cost of living crisis on working people, and that is firmly in our sights as we approach the spending review this week, but we will have to repair a fair amount of the system, not just the finances. The early warning audit has been left shattered following 14 years of mismanagement, and single-year settlements have left councils not knowing from one year to the next how much money they have to spend, so we will have to introduce multi-year settlements.

How: Working People

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Q12 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Local Government Environment
Context

The importance of well-designed open spaces for children and young people.

Question

Let me first draw attention to my declared interest as a trustee of Fields in Trust. In the last Parliament, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee received a large amount of evidence concerning the importance of well-designed open spaces for children and young people, but the national planning policy framework mentions them once and mentions bats twice. Is it not about time we got our priorities right, and did more to improve the design of—

Answer from Rushanara Ali

The national planning policy guidance will recognise the importance of high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sports, physical activity, health and wellbeing in our communities. Our proposals to release grey-belt land for development will depend on developers' meeting one of the “golden rules” and ensuring that all new developments have accessible green space.

Partly answered

How: Proposals, Developers

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Q13 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Scotland Science & Technology
Context

The SNP Government's previous failures to deliver gigabit broadband.

Question

My constituency, like most others, is seeing a great deal of new housing being built, which means more infrastructure, more business and more opportunities for growth. Key to that, however, is access to reliable, high-speed broadband. Given the SNP Government's previous failures to deliver gigabit broadband to every home as promised, can the Minister tell us what discussions are taking place and what consideration is being given to supporting its efficient delivery in Scotland?

Answer from Alex Norris

Through Project Gigabit we have a commitment to level up all communities in the United Kingdom, and through the welcome work of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister we have a commitment to reset relationships with the devolved Administrations. Hopefully, by putting those two together, we will be able to make significant progress.

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Q14 Oliver Ryan Labour (Co-op) Burnley
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

Anti-Muslim discourse in Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for everything that she is doing to tackle Islamo-phobia. This anti-Muslim discourse is a scourge on our communities in Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield. Will she join me in celebrating the work of local volunteers, churches, mosques, Lancashire police and others who organised Burnley's “Diversity Picnic—Bubbles in the Park”, and who worked so successfully in averting potential disturbances over the summer?

Answer from Angela Rayner

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I cannot wait to join him at Bubbles in the Park on a future date, as Burnley is not that far away from my constituency. He is absolutely right to celebrate the work of volunteers in communities and public servants, who give their time and energy to strengthen our local areas and bring people together.

How: Public Servants, Strengthen

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Q15 James MacCleary Lib Dem Lewes
Housing Local Government
Context

Talland Parade, an abandoned and dilapidated row of shops in Seaford.

Question

Talland Parade is an abandoned and dilapidated row of shops in Seaford, in my constituency. It has stood empty for 12 years, despite having planning permission in place for much-needed flats. The council had to take the developer to the High Court just to get some scaffolding removed at the site. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the site, and will the Government consider expanding compulsory purchase powers for councils to allow them to acquire such key sites?

Answer from Alex Norris

I am grateful for the question. Of course, I would be very happy to have a meeting. I point the hon. Gentleman towards the very helpful innovation of high street rental auctions at the back end of this year, which will give local authorities the tools to bring into use vacant units and to make sure that developers know that they must use them or let somebody else do so.

How: Auctions, Local Authorities

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Q16 Ashley Dalton Lab West Lancashire
Housing
Context

Residents in West Lancashire are concerned about access to services.

Question

The planned increase in housing supply is crucial, as we all know, but my residents in West Lancashire are concerned about access to services. Can the Secretary of State tell us what she is doing to ensure that the increase in housing supply is met with the relevant infrastructure and access to services?

Answer from Matthew Pennycook

It is incredibly important that the relevant infrastructure, amenities and services are in place. We have taken a number of steps to better support that in the short period we have been in office, not least through the national planning policy framework, but there is more to be done in that area. I will keep it under very close review.

Partly answered

How: Steps, Framework

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Q17 Blake Stephenson Con Mid Bedfordshire
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arises from a need to assess whether the current planning system adequately addresses flood risk management and if reforms could improve this.

Question

What assessment has the Secretary of State made of the merits of reforming the planning system to introduce new measures to help reduce flood risk?

Answer from Matthew Pennycook

The national planning policy framework clearly states that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including flood plains. We consulted on the national planning policy framework and sought views on how the planning system can more effectively manage flood risk. My Department is analysing responses, with a view to publishing a Government response before the end of the year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an assessment or evaluation of reform merits, only mentioned consultation and analysis of responses.

How: Consultation, Analysis

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Q18 Florence Eshalomi Labour (Co-op) Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Social Care Housing Local Government
Context

Local authorities are facing significant financial challenges, with a recent report from the Local Government Association indicating that one in four local authorities will seek additional funding. The question arises to prompt immediate action by the government to provide emergency support.

Question

The Secretary of State will know the financial difficulties facing so many of our local authorities. A recent Local Government Association report shows that one in four local authorities will apply for additional funding. It is fair to say that, for a number of them, March will be too late. What discussions have been had with the Chancellor to ensure that our local authorities get emergency support?

Answer from Jim McMahon

May I welcome the Chair of the Select Committee to her place? She will do an outstanding job for local government and housing. The Government absolutely understand how difficult it is for local authorities to make ends meet. We understand that the pressures in adult social care, children's social services and temporary accommodation are biting hard, and we are working through those issues with the sector.

Not addressed: Did not address discussions or emergency funding directly, instead welcomed a new committee member.

How: Welcome, Working

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