← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Homes and Buildings: Levelling Up Health and Wellbeing
20 October 2022
Lead MP
Jim Shannon
Strangford
DUP
Responding Minister
Andrew Stephenson
Tags
NHSHousingNorthern IrelandEnergyMental Health
Word Count: 8774
Other Contributors: 3
At a Glance
Jim Shannon raised concerns about homes and buildings: levelling up health and wellbeing in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Mr Shannon called on the Government to adopt a more holistic and joined-up approach as outlined by Lord Crisp's Healthy Homes Bill, committing to introduce legislation addressing health problems caused or exacerbated by unhealthy homes. He also urged the Minister for clearer guidance on electrical safety checks in owner-occupied properties.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Mr Shannon highlighted the causal link between poor housing conditions and poor health outcomes, citing the Marmot Review's findings on physical and mental health impacts associated with living in non-decent or cold housing. He also pointed to specific statistics: an estimated 18% of homes in Wales had a category 1 hazard; across England, Yorkshire and the Humber are the regions with the highest proportion of homes with category 1 hazards at 15%; Northern Ireland was 9%. The BRE estimated that poor housing cost the NHS £2.5 billion in first-year treatment costs in 2010.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
The hon. Member thanked the lead MP for securing this debate, agreeing that homes have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, especially in rural areas where buildings tend to be older and less energy-efficient.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Ms Owen highlighted the link between housing and health, citing statistics showing significant life expectancy differences based on deprivation levels. She emphasised the need for better standards in new developments to ensure they meet basic human needs such as access to green space and clean air.
Taiwo Owatemi
Lab
Coventry North West
The MP expressed concern about high air pollution contributing to one in 18 deaths of people over 30 in Coventry North West in 2019, equating to more than 150 deaths. She highlighted the impact on children's health and safety due to poor housing developments near busy roads and dual carriageways. The MP urged for legislative measures to reduce pollution levels and improve air quality through sustainable home construction.
Government Response
Andrew Stephenson
Government Response
The Government are committed to levelling up and ensuring decent living conditions for everyone. The Minister paid tribute to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) and the healthy homes and buildings APPG, acknowledging their mission to improve poor-quality housing. He highlighted that social rented sector homes have a non-decency rate of around 11%, noting regional disparities. The Government will review the decent homes standard, enforce safety regulations via the Building Safety Act 2022, and commit to improving energy efficiency for rental properties through smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and electrical installation standards. Over £12 billion has been invested in Help to Heat schemes to make homes warmer and cheaper to heat, with upgrades planned for more than half a million homes by 2035. The future homes standard will ensure new homes produce at least 75% less CO2 emissions compared to those built under the 2013 standards. The Government are also focused on enhancing skills training in construction and ensuring sustainable development through updated planning policies.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.