Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Homelessness

Monday 13 October 2025 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Mary Glindon raised concerns about the high percentage of young people aged 16 to 24 at risk of or experiencing homelessness, urging the Minister to meet with the YMCA and Youth Homeless Chapter.
  • Emily Darlington highlighted the success of Milton Keynes in reducing rough sleeping by adopting a whole-person approach, emphasizing the need for similar strategies.
  • Shockat Adam pointed out that over 1,000 children in Leicester are homeless each night, urging the Government to expedite its cross-departmental plan to tackle youth homelessness.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Glindon Lab Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Housing
Context

Mary Glindon referenced statistics on youth homelessness in England and Wales, noting that 18% of people at risk or experiencing homelessness are aged between 16 to 24. This highlights the disproportionate impact on young individuals.

Question

The Minister’s announcement is welcome, but last year, in England and Wales, 18% of the people who were found to be at risk of homelessness or were experiencing homelessness were aged just 16 to 24. That number is far too high. Will the Minister agree to meet the YMCA and the Youth Homeless Chapter Collective to discuss the action needed to support young people and reduce homelessness for good?

Answer from The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)

I congratulate my hon. Friend on sharing those figures with the House, because even though it is quite hard to hear them, it is important that we do not look away from this crisis. I will of course meet her and the charities she mentions.

Answered
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Q2 Emily Darlington Lab Milton Keynes Central
Housing Community Security
Context

Emily Darlington referenced the work done by Milton Keynes council to reduce the number of rough sleepers down to 16 when she was deputy leader. She highlighted the need for a whole-person approach in tackling rough sleeping.

Question

As the Minister may know, Milton Keynes used to be called “tent city”. We reduced the number of rough sleepers down to 16 when I was deputy leader at the council. We were able to do that because we understood that rough sleeping was more than just a housing issue; it was a whole-person issue. Is she willing to meet me and the other officers of the all-party parliamentary group on rough sleeping, as well as Back-Bench Members who have experience in this area, while shaping and delivering the rough sleeping strategy?

Answer from The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)

I am aware of my hon. Friend’s work, and the work of Milton Keynes council and others in the city, to bring down the number of rough sleepers. We will take that whole-person approach in the homelessness strategy. I never knowingly avoid a meeting with an APPG, so I am sure that we will get that arranged shortly.

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Q3 Shockat Adam Ind Leicester South
Housing
Context

Shockat Adam highlighted the issue of homelessness in Leicester, noting that over 1,000 children are homeless each night and living in temporary accommodation.

Question

Every night, over 1,000 children are homeless in my city; they are either in temporary accommodation, or even worse off. Does the Minister agree that this is totally unacceptable for a modern society, and that the Government must bring forward its cross-departmental plan to tackle youth homelessness?

Answer from The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to what I just said to the Chair of the Select Committee, but let me confirm again that any child in temporary accommodation, particularly B&B accommodation, who has not got enough space to do their homework pays the price—not just through what they are going through today, but in the future. We cannot accept that. We cannot stand for it, and we should work together across this House to bring this to an end.

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Q4 Mr Speaker Lab/Co-op Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Housing
Context

Florence Eshalomi welcomed the Minister to his position and highlighted the work of the inter-ministerial group, which had met four times. She expressed concern about over 170,000 young children being in temporary accommodation within two months.

Question

The Minister highlighted the inter-ministerial group, which the former Secretary of State chaired and saw as being very important. The issue cuts across all departmental groups. It is important, because within two months, as we go into the next year, and in the next financial year, we will see over 170,000 young children in temporary accommodation—in homelessness. That should worry all of us. The inter-ministerial group has met four times. Can the Minister confirm that the group will continue to be convened—and if it will, who will chair it?

Answer from The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)

The Chair of the Select Committee makes the case extremely well. If anybody in this Chamber is not worried about temporary accommodation, they are not paying attention; that is how serious this is. It is terrible for our kids, and for the taxpayer, because it is so expensive. I will follow up with her. A lot of work has already been done on the homelessness strategy. We want to get it confirmed as soon as possible. I will engage fully with the Select Committee on the strategy to ensure that we get it right, and we will come back to her shortly with the details of how we will do that together.

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Q5 Alison McGovern Lab Wirral South
Housing
Context

Alison McGovern responds to a colleague's welcoming remarks, referencing previous comments she made about the homelessness strategy. She acknowledges the long-standing issue of homelessness resulting from 14 years of government decisions.

Question

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his words of welcome. I refer him to the comments that I made to colleagues. The homelessness strategy is on its way. I am afraid that we could not overturn 14 years of wrong choices in the time that we have had in office—that is not realistic—but our strategy on its way. If there is cross-party support for going much further to reduce the use of temporary accommodation and ensure that everyone has a roof over their head, I will happily work with him to do that together.

Answer from Alison McGovern (The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his words of welcome. I refer him to the comments that I made to colleagues. The homelessness strategy is on its way. I am afraid that we could not overturn 4 years of wrong choices in the time that we have had in office—that is not realistic—but our strategy on its way. If there is cross-party support for going much further to reduce the use of temporary accommodation and ensure that everyone has a roof over their head, I will happily work with him to do that together.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner's specific ask for concrete action beyond current efforts was not fully addressed. The minister acknowledged the need but did not provide specifics on additional actions or timelines.

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