Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Affordable Housing

Tuesday 3 December 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 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government announced a 500 million boost to the affordable homes programme, increasing annual spend to 3.1 billion.
  • The Chancellor will consider steps to bring historic buildings back into use as affordable homes in Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove.
  • The right to buy discounts for council homes will continue, but with reduced values in Staffordshire.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Williams Lab Stoke-on-Trent North
Economy Housing
Context

The MP is concerned about the lack of affordable housing in his constituency, specifically mentioning historic buildings that are lying dormant.

Question

What fiscal steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase the supply of affordable housing?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

At the Budget, the Government announced major steps towards delivering a once-in-a-generation increase in social housing, including a £500 million boost to the affordable homes programme, increasing annual spend to £3.1 billion. The Government will set out future grant investment beyond the current affordable homes programme at phase 2 of the spending review.

Answered
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Q2 David Williams Lab Stoke-on-Trent North
Housing Local Government
Context

The MP notes the presence of many historic buildings in Stoke-on-Trent that are lying dormant, suggesting they could be repurposed as affordable housing.

Question

In Stoke-on-Trent and Kidsgrove there are many historic buildings that are lying dormant, and they have done so for a very long time. What steps will the Chancellor take to help to bring these beautiful buildings back into use as affordable homes for local people?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

Stoke-on-Trent has a proud industrial history and some beautiful buildings. My hon. Friend makes an important point—I will raise it with colleagues at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The £500 million boost to the affordable homes programme also allows up to 10% of that delivery to come from acquiring existing homes. Social landlords, including some local authorities, can bid for funding to bring empty homes back into use for social housing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps by the Chancellor

How: Will Raise It With Colleagues

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Q3 Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Housing
Context

The MP is concerned about the reduction of right-to-buy discounts in Staffordshire from £75,000 to £16,000.

Question

Many of my constituents have benefited over many years from the right to buy their council homes and social housing, which has given them an important step on to the ladder to home ownership. The discounts in Staffordshire are going to be cut to £16,000. I do not doubt that the Chancellor, like me, wants to help as many people as possible on to the path to home ownership. Will she pledge to review that decision with regard to the impact it will have on so many people, and look at restoring that discount in future?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

As the right hon. Gentleman will know, home ownership fell under the previous Government. We are determined to turn that around and ensure that more people, particularly families, get on to the housing ladder. As he has confirmed, the right to buy discounts will continue, but in future every penny of that money will go back into building new social housing, so that more people can have a home of their own and a roof over their head.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to review decision

How: Turning Around, More People Get On The Ladder

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