Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Community Ownership

Tuesday 10 March 2026 · 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

  • Preet Kaur Gill welcomed the Government's community right to buy for local assets.
  • Pride in Place funding can be used to support local assets like youth centres and libraries.
  • Calum Miller raised concerns about changes affecting large faith buildings in his constituency.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Preet Kaur Gill Labour (Co-op) Birmingham Edgbaston
Community Security Local Government
Context

Communities have seen assets hollowed out due to 14 years of Conservative austerity. Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade.

Question

After 14 years of Conservative austerity, many communities like mine have seen the assets that matter most to them hollowed out. I welcome the Government's community right to buy, because putting local people in control of local assets is simply common sense. In my constituency, Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade thanks to this Government. Does the Minister agree that tackling barriers such as access to finance will help communities to take ownership of local assets and rebuild neighbourhoods?

Answer from James Murray

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Pride in Place funding can be used for communities to take ownership of and support local assets, from youth centres to libraries and cultural venues. I am very glad to hear that the funding will make such a positive difference to her constituents in Woodgate and Bartley Green, and I am proud that this Government are putting people in control of what happens in their local area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask about tackling barriers such as access to finance

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Q2 Preet Kaur Gill Labour (Co-op) Birmingham Edgbaston
Community Security Local Government
Context

Communities have seen assets hollowed out due to 14 years of Conservative austerity. Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade.

Question

After 14 years of Conservative austerity, many communities like mine have seen the assets that matter most to them hollowed out. I welcome the Government's community right to buy, because putting local people in control of local assets is simply common sense. In my constituency, Woodgate and Bartley Green will receive £20 million through Pride in Place funding over the next decade thanks to this Government. Does the Minister agree that tackling barriers such as access to finance will help communities to take ownership of local assets and rebuild neighbourhoods?

Answer from James Murray

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Pride in Place funding can be used for communities to take ownership of and support local assets, from youth centres to libraries and cultural venues. I am very glad to hear that the funding will make such a positive difference to her constituents in Woodgate and Bartley Green, and I am proud that this Government are putting people in control of what happens in their local area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask about tackling barriers such as access to finance

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Q3 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Taxation Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Small villages tend to have a pub, a church, and a village hall. Community asset policy supports community ownership of pubs, but changes to VAT relief on listed buildings concern those who run large faith buildings.

Question

Across my constituency, there are three things that small villages tend to have: a pub, a church and a village hall. The community asset policy will support community ownership of the pubs, but I am hearing from those who run large faith buildings that they are deeply concerned about the changes to VAT relief on listed buildings. Will the Minister agree to meet me and others who are literally trying to repair the church roof to discuss that uncertainty?

Answer from James Murray

As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, this scheme is operated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, so I am happy to ask colleagues in that Department to come back to him.

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask for a meeting

How: Redirected To Another Department

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