Topical Questions 2026-04-13

2026-04-13

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Sarah Dyke Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
If he will make a statement on his departmental r [1D [K responsibilities.
The Renters Rights Act 2025 meets Labour's manifest [8D [K manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting in Engl [4D [K England. We will introduce our reforms in three phases, the first of which [K will begin on 1 May, when section 21 no-fault evictions will be abolished a [1D [K and rent increases will be limited to just one a year. We will end rental b [1D [K bidding wars and limit requests for rent in advance to a maximum of one mon [3D [K month, and it will be illegal to discriminate against prospective renters w [1D [K who have children or who receive benefits.
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Q2 Partial Answer
Sarah Dyke Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
The availability of affordable housing in Somerset has plummeted, demand has surged and rents have risen by six times as much as income. These challenges are highlighted in rural market towns such as Glastonbury, where hundreds of people live in vans and caravans lining the kerbsides. Many are there because they cannot afford to rent a bricks-and-mortar home. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that everyone has a decent and safe place where they can afford to live?
Ensuring that there are decent and safe places to live all across this country is a primary objective of this Government. As the hon. Lady will be aware, the social and affordable homes programme opened for bids in February, and the first phase of bidding will close later in April. The programme will provide up to £39 billion for the biggest ever increase in the amount of social and affordable housing across this country, including council housing, which will make a massive difference to people in rural areas as well as those in other parts of the country.
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Q3 Partial Answer
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Lab
Suffolk Coastal
One of the biggest housing challenges in many of my villages and market towns—for instance, Orford, Aldeburgh and even larger towns such as Felixstowe— is the selling off of housing stock by social housing providers who do not replace it locally. Considering how to tackle the issue is critical, and, as was stated in a recent report by the Labour rural research group, expanding the use of rural exception sites must be part of the solution. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to do that in order to deliver affordable housing?
Our recent consultation on a revised national planning policy framework included proposals to strengthen support for rural exception sites, and to make it easier for authorities to require affordable housing on smaller sites in rural areas. My hon. Friend will also be aware that designated rural areas are already exempt from the right to buy, but I would be more than happy to meet her and her fellow members of the research group to discuss protecting existing stock, and other matters covered in the recent report that she referenced.
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Q4 Partial Answer
James Cleverly Con
Braintree
Last week I was in Bromsgrove, a rural constituency facing an 85% increase in its housing target. Neighbouring Labour-run Birmingham, which has significant brownfield capacity, has seen its target cut by more than 30%. Targets are increasing by 37% in Essex, but decreasing by 11% in London. House building has collapsed under this Labour Government, so why is the Secretary of State letting his Labour-run urban friends off the hook while dumping housing targets in rural Britain?
It was, of course, the Conservative Government who abolished housing targets everywhere, which led to the housing crisis that we are now facing. Under that Government, the number of people sleeping rough, on the streets and in shop doorways, doubled. Opposition Members are smiling while I explain what they did: they are smiling because the number of people sleeping on the streets doubled, while the number of families in temporary accommodation doubled as well. The Conservatives did nothing when the housing market collapsed in 2022-23 because of Liz Truss’ Budget, which the shadow Secretary of State supported.
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Q5 Partial Answer
James Cleverly Con
Braintree
The Secretary of State cannot answer—he does not have an answer. Perhaps he can give the answer that he failed to give in response to a written question, because he has once again refused to publish either the prospectus or the selection criteria for his election pilots. This is part of a wider pattern: cancelling elections that the Government do not think they will win, changing local government boundaries instead of giving that task to the independent Boundary Commission, and changing voter ID arrangements without consultation. When I saw this kind of behaviour overseas, I called it out for what it was: dirty, self-interested, partisan politics. Will the Secretary of State scrap this Orbán-style politics and start doing things properly?
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, elections are going ahead all over the country right now. I suspect that, like me, he has been campaigning and knocking on doors to talk to people about how they will vote, and we will find out in a few weeks what their judgments on all of us will be.
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Q6 Partial Answer
Lauren Edwards Lab
Rochester and Strood
I welcome the action that the Government are taking to improve the reporting and transparency of political donations from unincorporated associations in the Representation of the People Bill. Since 2010, 97% of donations from such bodies have come from unknown sources under the existing rules. Will Ministers consider going further and require information to be published on who runs unincorporated associations that make political donations and what their purpose is, to ensure that we have maximum transparency?
Through the Representation of the People Bill, we are significantly lowering the threshold for when unincorporated associations register with the Electoral Commission, and we will require them to publicly identify a responsible person who is legally accountable for compliance with electoral law.
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Q7 Partial Answer
Zöe Franklin Lib Dem
Guildford
Just before Easter, a development of 500-plus homes in my constituency, predicated on building a brand-new Howard of Effingham school, was withdrawn after a decade of commitment to the plan. The developer is expected to proceed with a new application without a school. The community and school are understandably angry and upset. What powers does the Minister have to ensure that developers can be held to such long-term commitments, and will he meet me to discuss the issue and its implications in my constituency and more widely?
The hon. Lady will appreciate that Ministers cannot comment on individual planning applications or local plans, but I am more than happy to meet her and discuss the general issues arising from the case she mentions.
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Q8 Partial Answer
Jonathan Davies Lab
Mid Derbyshire
I have previously raised the case of the Ada Belfield care centre in Belper with my hon. Friend the Minister. At the moment, it has an uncertain future, because the Reform-led Derbyshire county council may sell the home. May I ask her to take an interest in this case to make sure that we have adequate adult social care provision in Derbyshire? She might like to raise that with the council’s leadership.
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. It is important for local authorities to work very closely with NHS colleagues, as I am doing in Government, to ensure that we have sufficient adult social care. Otherwise, we will not be able to get people out of hospital and into good homes. I ask his local council to pay attention to that, and I will happily work with him on it.
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Q9 Partial Answer
Lisa Smart Lib Dem
Hazel Grove
Lib Dem-run Stockport is the MJ’s council of the year. It spends £3 in every £4 on adults and children, and it includes the most deprived part of Greater Manchester, yet the Government’s funding settlement leaves the borough receiving £52 million less each year than the average across equivalent authorities. That has been made significantly worse this year. What advice would the Minister give to my constituents when they see the council having to make cuts to vital local services?
I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. We want to see all councils progress towards financial sustainability, and what I would say to her constituents is that the decisions taken over the past 14 years have left councils paying for failure. If we get that right, we will be able to spend on the things that people really prioritise locally.
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Q10 Partial Answer
Lewis Atkinson Lab
Sunderland Central
Can the Minister outline how the new national homelessness strategy will provide additional funds to Sunderland city council to tackle rough sleeping and to support the vital work that organisations such as Oasis Community Housing, the Salvation Army and the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen do in our city?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue and, through him, I thank the organisations that he mentions. Our homelessness plan provides millions of pounds for Sunderland to help prevent people from becoming homeless. As with all Members, I will work with him on that.
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Q11 Partial Answer
Peter Fortune Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Context
The Government's connectivity tool classifi [8D [K classifies land proposed for development at Biggin Hill and Hayes Farm as e [1D [K equally well connected as the Greenwich peninsula, despite significant diff [4D [K differences in infrastructure. This classification has raised concerns abou [4D [K about the fairness of London's housing targets.
The Government's connectivity tool classifies lan [3D [K land proposed for development at Biggin Hill and Hayes Farm as equally well [4D [K well connected as the Greenwich peninsula. This is utterly nonsensical. Doe [3D [K Does the Minister recognise that the Government's housing targets for the L [1D [K London borough of Bromley are both unfair and unachievable?
I find it quite galling that we have the shadow Sec [3D [K Secretary of State saying that we have lowered London's housing targets too [3D [K too far and the hon. Gentleman saying that they are too high. They are just [4D [K just in the right place, from my point of view.
Assessment & feedback
The unfairness and unfeasibility of Bromley's hou [3D [K housing targets based on connectivity tool classification
Attacking Questioner'S Stance
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Q12 Partial Answer
Context
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 will ban no-fa [5D [K no-fault evictions from May 1, but local authorities need resources to impl [4D [K implement the reforms. The Minister has announced additional funding and in [2D [K initiatives such as a private rented sector database and PRS ombudsman.
I thank the Secretary of State for outlining the [K reforms that will come through with the Renters' Rights Act 2025. In 18 day [3D [K days' time, residents will see no-fault evictions banned. The Minister know [4D [K knows that we need local authorities to have the resources, and he has outl [4D [K outlined that there will be additional resources for local authorities, inc [3D [K including the launch of the private rented sector database and the PRS ombu [4D [K ombudsman. Can the Minister give us an update on when they will be live?
My hon. Friend will not have to wait long at all fo [2D [K for details of the new burdens funding that is coming through for local aut [3D [K authorities. On the implementation of the Act more widely, as she knows, th [2D [K the database, the ombudsman and other things will come through in further w [1D [K waves after the wave that commences on 1 May.
Assessment & feedback
Specific timing and details for new burdens fundi [5D [K funding, private rented sector database, PRS ombudsman implementation
Vague Timelines
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Q13 Partial Answer
Rebecca Paul Con
Reigate
Context
Rural areas are experiencing unauthorised d [1D [K developments on land owned by Travellers, with insufficient action taken ag [2D [K against them. My right hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey and 30 collea [6D [K colleagues have been advocating for national support to empower police and [K local authorities.
Rural areas face a wave of unauthorised developme [9D [K developments on Travellers' sites with little action from authorities. My c [1D [K colleague and I, along with 30 others, are pressing for new powers for the [K police and local authorities. Will the Minister meet us to discuss this iss [3D [K issue causing havoc in our countryside?
Local planning authorities have enforcement powers [K for tackling unauthorised development with strong penalties. We are consult [7D [K consulting on a revised national planning policy framework that includes pr [2D [K proposals to strengthen national policy against unauthorised development. I [1D [K I am willing to meet the hon. Lady and other hon. Members about this issue. [6D [K issue.
Assessment & feedback
Meeting request not specifically confirmed
Under Review
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Q14 Partial Answer
Chris Webb Lab
Blackpool South
Context
Residents in Blackpool South pay higher cou [3D [K council tax rates compared to those living in expensive areas like Mayfair. [8D [K Mayfair. This is a result of the Conservative policy forcing Blackpool Coun [4D [K Council to increase council tax to the maximum allowed just to maintain ope [3D [K operations.
My constituents in Blackpool South face higher co [2D [K council tax payments than residents with mansions in Mayfair. Due to Conser [6D [K Conservative policies, Blackpool Council had to raise council taxes to the [K cap merely to survive. How will the Minister help lower council tax for peo [3D [K people in Blackpool South?
I mentioned the increased charge introduced by the [K Chancellor because our party believes in fairness regarding council tax. I [K will work with councils across the country to reduce costs and prevent futu [4D [K future sky-high bills.
Assessment & feedback
Specific steps or timeline not provided for reduc [5D [K reducing Blackpool South's council tax
Will Work On This Fairness
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Q15 Partial Answer
Monica Harding Lib Dem
Esher and Walton
Context
The question arises due to the presumption [K in favour of development at transport nodes and on the grey belt, impacting [9D [K impacting Esher and Walton constituency which is half green belt with a hig [3D [K high number of stations.
The presumption in favour of development at trans [5D [K transport nodes and on the so-called grey belt means that in my constituenc [11D [K constituency of Esher and Walton, which is half green belt and has a dispro [6D [K disproportionately high number of stations—everybody lives within 15 minute [6D [K minutes of a station—everywhere can be developed under the Government's pro [3D [K proposals. What should I say to my constituents who are facing concrete eve [3D [K everywhere?
The hon. Member should say that they live near high [4D [K highly sustainable areas for development and we want to see more homes come [4D [K come forward in those areas.
Assessment & feedback
Specific concerns about the impact of concrete de [2D [K development everywhere were not addressed
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Sarah Coombes Lab
West Bromwich
Context
The Sikh community in Sandwell faced a seco [4D [K second racist attack at Guru Nanak gurdwara, where meat was dropped on the [K doorstep despite it being strictly banned inside. This incident highlights [K ongoing issues with anti-Sikh hate.
Last week, the Sikh community in Sandwell was roc [3D [K rocked by a second appalling attack at Guru Nanak gurdwara. For the second [K time, the gurdwara faced a racist attack in which someone dropped a bag of [K meat on the doorstep. Given that meat is strictly banned inside the gurdwar [7D [K gurdwara, this was deeply offensive. As this was a repeat attack, will the [K Minister meet me to talk about what we can do to stop this anti-Sikh hate a [1D [K and make the gurdwara safe?
I thank my hon. Friend for telling the House about [K this appalling incident, which we all agree is absolutely terrible. Racial [K and religious hate is completely unacceptable. I am sure that her constitue [9D [K constituents will be glad to know that the Prime Minister is here to hear w [1D [K what has happened. The Government support such organisations. I will make s [1D [K sure that the Minister for community cohesion—the Under-Secretary of State [K for Housing, Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member fo [2D [K for Peckham (Miatta Fahnbulleh)—meets my hon. Friend.
Assessment & feedback
Meeting to discuss specific actions against anti- [5D [K anti-Sikh hate was not directly confirmed
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Q17 Partial Answer
Julian Lewis Con
New Forest East
Context
A significant portion of Julian Lewis's con [3D [K constituents are to be reassigned from the New Forest area under control of [2D [K of an urban-dominated unitary authority, despite strong opposition. This de [2D [K decision is reportedly influenced by a Labour-controlled Southampton city c [1D [K council.
At the behest of Labour-dominated Southampton cit [3D [K city council, two thirds of my constituents are to be torn away from the Ne [2D [K New Forest and placed under the control of an urban-dominated unitary autho [5D [K authority. Does the Minister accept that my constituents are overwhelmingly [14D [K overwhelmingly against what the Government are trying to do?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising that p [1D [K point on behalf of his constituents. We take everybody's views into account [7D [K account. I know that this will be difficult, but we will be working with al [2D [K all colleagues as we make the process work.
Assessment & feedback
No clear acknowledgment or acceptance of constitu [8D [K constituent opposition
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Q18 Partial Answer
Catherine Atkinson Lab
Derby North
Context
A car was driven into crowds in Derby, resu [4D [K resulting in several serious injuries. This incident has raised concerns ab [2D [K about emergency services' preparedness.
I am concerned about the terrible incident in Der [3D [K Derby where a car injured several people. Will you join me in thanking the [K emergency services and public first aid providers? Can we meet to discuss s [1D [K strengthening local preparedness and risk management?
I am sorry about the incident. I will meet my hon. [K Friend and work with her and others across the country on resilience and re [2D [K recovery.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for strengthening local prepared [8D [K preparedness and risk management was not addressed in detail.
Response accuracy
Q19 Partial Answer
Josh Babarinde Lib Dem
Eastbourne
Context
East Sussex county council has placed a sto [3D [K storage crate outside the Dickens Tea Cottage, affecting its business opera [5D [K operations.
The Conservative-run East Sussex county council i [1D [K is harming local businesses. It recently put a large storage crate near the [3D [K the Dickens Tea Cottage, impacting trade. Will you urge the council to remo [4D [K remove it and protect this local business?
I advise all councils not to have a vendetta agains [6D [K against local businesses.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about urging the removal of the [K storage crate was ignored.
Response accuracy
Q20 Partial Answer
Jonathan Brash Lab
Hartlepool
Context
In one week, Hillingdon council discharged [K its homelessness duty by issuing 22 section 208 notices and placing 77 indi [4D [K individuals in Hartlepool, causing a significant burden.
Hillingdon council discharged its homelessness du [2D [K duty by issuing 22 section 208 notices and placing 77 people in Hartlepool. [11D [K Hartlepool. Does the Minister agree this is unfair and places too much of a [1D [K a burden on our town?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue; it i [1D [K is important. Hillingdon council has heard what was said, and I will not re [2D [K repeat all Government actions on homelessness.
Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about the fairness of the practi [6D [K practice was not directly answered with substantive information.
Response accuracy