Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Homelessness Prevention

Monday 14 July 2025 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Patrick Hurley asked about steps being taken to prevent people with no recourse to public funds from becoming homeless.
  • Dr Rupa Huq questioned whether the Government's cap on funding for temporary accommodation should be lifted to support local councils dealing with homelessness.
  • Calum Miller expressed concern over a proposed 42% decrease in net resources for his local council due to changes in business rates and asked if there will be protected support for tackling homelessness in the fair funding review.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patrick Hurley Lab Southport
Immigration Housing
Context

The number of people in the UK with no recourse to public funds has increased, leading many to fall through the system and potentially end up rough sleeping or engaging in antisocial behaviour.

Question

Patrick Hurley noted that individuals without recourse to public funds often face bureaucratic challenges that leave them unsupported. He asked what steps are being taken by the Department to prevent people with no recourse to public funds from ending up in a limbo situation and to address homelessness effectively.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rushanara Ali)

Rushanara Ali stated that migrants should maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds. She encouraged councils to exhaust all options when working with individuals who have restricted eligibility for public funds. Additionally, she highlighted that funding from the rough sleeping prevention and recovery grant can be used to help anyone as long as actions comply with the law.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

London boroughs are currently spending £4 million a day on temporary accommodation, facing increased costs and rough sleeping rates while central government subsidy has been frozen for 14 years.

Question

Dr Huq highlighted the daily expenditure of London boroughs on temporary accommodation and questioned whether the Government’s cap should be lifted to provide financial support for local councils tackling homelessness.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rushanara Ali)

Rushanara Ali mentioned that the Department for Work and Pensions reviews the level of housing benefit subsidy for temporary accommodation regularly. Any future decisions will be informed by the Government’s wider housing ambitions, including tackling homelessness, as well as the broader fiscal context.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Housing Local Government
Context

Homelessness is a significant issue in the Cherwell district council area, with high housing costs leading to difficulties in finding social and affordable homes.

Question

Calum Miller expressed concern about the potential decrease of 42% in net resources available to his local council due to proposed changes in business rates. He asked if there will be protected support for tackling homelessness included in the fair funding review.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rushanara Ali)

Rushanara Ali reminded Calum Miller that they inherited a homelessness crisis with record numbers in temporary accommodation. She highlighted rough sleeping has increased by 164% since 2010 but noted the previous Labour government significantly reduced homelessness and rough sleeping rates.

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether there will be protected support for tackling homelessness in the fair funding review, instead referencing historical contexts.

How: Referencing Past Achievements

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email