Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q5. What recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of progress on the delivery of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. (907904)

As well. Mr. speaker, I'm very grateful to my hon. Friend for the work he's been doing on this, and I'm very pleased to see the announcement of the consultation on announcement of the consultation on the Development Corporation a few weeks ago. So what further steps can we expect to see along the corridor in the coming months?

14:57

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend not only for his question, but also for his unwavering support for ambitious and high quality, sustainable growth in his city and surrounding areas. We are determined to unleash nationally significant growth in Greater Cambridge, to the benefit of existing and new communities and the nation as a whole. Following the consultation on a Greater Cambridge Urban Development Corporation, which ends on the 1st Corporation, which ends on the 1st of April, we will publish a response of the summary responses and a formal response setting out the government's next steps.

As the government's next steps. As ever, Mr. Speaker, I will strive to ensure my hon. Friend, the hon. Members from Cambridgeshire are fully apprised of the government's thinking. Ben Obese-Jecty. Growth Corridor and in my Huntingdon constituency, we're lucky enough to have RAF Wyton, which is in the middle of a very ambitious project, Project Fairfax, to use that surplus mod land. The Mod signed a memorandum of understanding with Huntingdonshire District Council last year, but also Homes England are a key part of that.

Would the Minister meet with myself and with the chief executive of Huntingdonshire District Council to discuss how we can best supercharge these growth plans and make good progress on this? More than happy to meet the hon. Gentleman, right?

14:58

Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Huntingdon, Conservative)

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Let's just move on to Gordon McKee. Question number six. Mr. speaker, Minister.

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Mr Speaker Castle, Mike Kane Glasgow South will be given up to 20 million Pride in Place programme funding over the next ten years. funding over the next ten years. Glasgow City Council will also be allocated 1.5 million to the Pride in Place Impact Fund over the next in Place Impact Fund over the next two years. This funding, alongside increased powers in our Pride in Place strategy, will put his

14:58

Q6. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on neighbourhoods in Glasgow South constituency. (907905)

Place strategy, will put his community in the driving seat so that they can deliver the priorities they want to see in their area. >> Thank you.

14:58

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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>> Thank you. >> Minister, for her answer. In my constituency is a place full of brilliant people, but it has often been let down by government, whether that's the SNP government closing the local police station, the council stripping back the opening hours of the local swimming pool. So I am delighted that the UK Labour Government is awarding £20 million for Pride in Place funding to local people are full of ideas for how this money can be spent, and top of the list for many is bringing us to the market, to the local area.

So will the Minister join with me in celebrating this funding, and will she commit to working closely with the local community and myself to make this a success here?

14:59

Gordon McKee MP (Glasgow South, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend for being such a powerful champion for his community. I'm excited by both the level but the ideas coming from local people in Castlemilk. Thank you for all the work he is doing to make Pride in Place a success in his area, and my colleagues in the Scottish Office and myself look forward to working with him and the community to deliver for their area.

14:59

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Bradley Thomas number seven, Mr. Speaker. >> Mr. speaker, the definition of grey belt for the purposes of both plan making and decision making is set out in the glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework. The government also updated Greenbelt Planning practice guidance in February last year to assist local planning authorities with identifying, identifying and considering proposals on potential greenbelt land and to provide for a consistent approach across England.

15:00

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Bradley Thomas. Bromsgrove golf course is in open countryside. It's a beautiful green, open space. It's one of the most popular golf courses anywhere in the country and contains over 20,000 trees. Does the Minister really think that this is suitable for development, particularly at scale? Will he rule out development on such golf courses? And if not, will the Minister meet with me and members of the golf club to discuss their concerns?

15:00

Bradley Thomas MP (Bromsgrove, Conservative)

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Mr. >> Mr. speaker, I certainly won't rule in or out development on any particular site, and he knows the reasons why I can't speak to reasons why I can't speak to particular planning applications. What I would say to the hon. Gentleman, and he knows this from our recent meeting on the subject. It is for local planning authorities themselves to determine whether exceptional circumstances exist that justify the release of Greenbelt, and it is for individual local planning authorities to undertake the necessary assessments to identify if land is greenbelt, either through plan making or through considering specific applications that come forward.

15:01

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Chris Vince. planning system will mean there will be more housebuilding in this country for the first time in 40 years. Good news for residents in my constituency of Harlow who are desperate to get home from themselves and for their families. But what more can this government do to provide an uplift in social and affordable housing that residents in my constituency Harlow desperately need?

15:01

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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Here I thank my hon. Friend for that question, Mr. Speaker. And he's right. Our changes to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 alone have been judged by the ABR to lead to the biggest increase in house building over the last 40 years. What the party opposite won't recognise, Mr. Speaker, is that as important as preserving green belts are, there is simply not enough sites on is simply not enough sites on brownfield land registers across the country to deliver the volume of homes we need.

That is why we need a more strategic approach to need a more strategic approach to development.

15:01

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Mr. David Simmonds.

15:01

David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister's just very clearly set out for the House the key plank of development strategy under the previous Secretary of State, which was to redesignate large parts of our greenbelt as greenbelt, but with housing delivery collapsing. I have to ask the Minister, if we look just at the situation in our capital. A recent report identified that London has 460,000 additional home capacity on brownfield sites within the capital already, which at the rate of delivery under the current mayor, is an 83 year supply of housing development plots.

So rather than focusing on releasing Greenbelt for development, why isn't the government focusing on getting the homes that already have planning permission and that could be built on brownfield sites tomorrow built instead?

15:02

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Yeah. precisely why, Mr. speaker, we've strengthened further national planning policy in respect of previously developed land. That's out to consultation, as he knows at the moment. That's why our new Homes Accelerator is doing what is needed. En bloc permission sites across the country. I have a few. I'm afraid, Mr. Speaker, the idea that house building is collapsing. We are dealing. We are dealing with the legacy of the previous government's decisions, including

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the abolition of mandatory housing targets. But starts are up and applications are coming through the system. Mr. speaker. Chris Bloore question.

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Chris Bloore question. Please, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Mr. speaker, the Renters Rights

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Mr. speaker, the Renters Rights Act received royal assent on the 27th of October last year. We intend, as per the roadmap we published in November, to implement the new tenancy system it provides for on the 1st of May, at which point, among other things, section point, among other things, section 21, no fault evictions will be abolished, rental bidding wars prohibited and the practice of landlords demanding large amounts of rent in advance from tenants banned.

15:03

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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Or thank the Minister for his response. He knows the Renters response. He knows the Renters Rights Act will be transformative, especially for my constituents in Redditch. But can my hon. Friend assure me that the government recognises the urgent need to improve safety and standards in the private rented sector, and will he act to drive down rates of non decency?

15:04

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Mr. question. I can provide him with the assurance he seeks, Mr. speaker, whether in the PRS or social rented sector, landlords should address non decency wherever it exists, while we are giving landlords until 2035 to implement our new Decent Homes standard, we've made clear they should not wait until 2035 to improve their properties, and we're also acting in other ways to ensure private tenants have safe, warm and decent homes, including introducing new minimum energy efficiency standards for the sector, strengthening local authority enforcement in respect of unremediated hazards, and applying our law to the PRS through the relevant provisions in the act.

15:04

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Jim Shannon. The private sector renting in Northern Ireland is a slightly different system and the Minister knows that, but the same. The problems are the same. Doesn't matter where they are in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Can I ask? The Minister is always incredibly helpful when it comes to assuring me and others in this House of the importance of Northern Ireland's input into the process. Can I ask the Minister, has he had the opportunity to speak to the relevant Minister, the Northern Ireland Assembly, to ensure that we

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in Northern Ireland can have the same protections that the Minister is indicating for here? Thank you. I can't provide him with

15:05

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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>> I can't provide him with assurance. I have met my counterpart in Northern Ireland some time ago, and he prompts me to look at my private office and

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look at my private office and ensure that another meeting is scheduled for the near future. Alison Bennett thank you, Mr.

15:05

Q9. What steps he is taking to support high streets. (907908)

>> Alison Bennett thank you, Mr. Speaker. Burgess Hill in my Mid Sussex constituency. Mr. >> Pardon. >> Question number nine, Mr.

15:05

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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>> Question number nine, Mr. speaker. Mr. speaker, the government is taking action to revive our high streets after a decade and a half of neglect under the last government. We are tackling vacant premises through high street rental auction, driving local regeneration through 5.8 billion of Pride in Place funding and bringing forward a high street strategy, backed by at least 150 million of support to the areas that need it the most.

15:05

Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)

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Alison Bennett. Burgess Hill, in my Mid Sussex constituency has done everything asked of it by successive governments. It's taking thousands of new houses, and yet it has a high street and shopping centre that need redevelopment. Under the previous conservative government, a Levelling up Fund bid was not successful and Labour have not supported it through the Pride in Place scheme. The Liberal Democrats want to give Burgess Hill the town centre it so badly deserves. What can the Minister offer to support the regeneration of high streets and town centres like Burgess Hill that are unlikely to qualify for Pride in Place funding?

15:06

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Mr. speaker, the hon. Member is right to talk about the importance of high streets. They are a barometer for how people feel their communities are doing and how they feel the nation is doing. We are committed to reviving high streets, and that means re-imagining high streets and working with communities through our high street strategies to find ways in which we can empower them to do that. We've got the High Street Rental auction, which is a way in which we can get vacant premises up and running, but we are committed alongside 150 million that we have announced with the strategy, so that places are able to reshape their high streets so that it can work for their communities.

15:07

Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> In Derby, we've heard. >> Concerns the impact. >> Of food delivery drivers have on our high streets and the city our high streets and the city centre, particularly on Saint Peter Street. Will the Minister work across department to ensure that food delivery companies are operating safely on our high streets and in our city centres?

15:07

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Thank you to the hon. Member for raising that issue. I am committed to working across departments. I'm happy to meet with him to hear the specifics of the issues in his high street, and to work with colleagues across government to see how we

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respond. Sarah Olney number ten, Mr. Speaker. Minister. With your permission, Mr.

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With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will answer questions ten and 18 together on the 27th of January. The Building Safety Regulator became an arms length body under MCHLG and made a major body under MCHLG and made a major step towards creating single construction regulator. The BSR

15:08

Q10. What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Building Safety Regulator. (907910)

construction regulator. The BSR continues to make strong progress in the overhaul of its operating model. Only the most complex legacy new build cases remain, and new applications are being approved near the 12 week target through the Innovation Unit. The BSR is building on this progress, focusing on delivering improvements in on delivering improvements in respect of remediation and the occupation regime, although.

15:08

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Mayor of London has set a target of building 80 88,000 new homes in London per year over the homes in London per year over the next decade. However, recent figures show that construction figures show that construction began last year on only 5891. Over the past two years, construction for new builds has fallen by 85% in for new builds has fallen by 85% in affordable homes and 94% for council housing, and delays at the building safety regulators approval processes are stalling development projects, curtailing investment and losing people their jobs.

So does the Minister agree with me that ensuring the regulator is operating efficiently is paramount to delivering on housing targets and supporting the UK housing sector?

15:09

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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Yes.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government recognises recognised last summer that the building last summer that the building safety regulator needed to be reformed, brought in new leadership and the performance has seen a marked improvement. Performance data is published monthly, so it's data is published monthly, so it's very transparent how the building safety regulator is performing. In safety regulator is performing. In the final quarter of 2025, we saw the highest number of decisions, 673 since the BSR commenced in operations, and we're still pushing hard for further improvements.

15:09

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Darren Paffey. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker. Tomorrow marks one year since the residents of Sundowner Court in Southampton were forced to leave their own homes forced to leave their own homes because of serious fire safety defects. Two neighbouring blocks followed soon after, and no one followed soon after, and no one expects to be back in their own homes for at least another year. The government rightly prioritised The government rightly prioritised speeding up remediation, and it's important that our regulator shares that sense of urgency. But with the

15:10

Darren Paffey MP (Southampton Itchen, Labour)

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that sense of urgency. But with the building safety regulator taking up to 40 weeks to approve some of those remediation plans, what improvements can the Minister promise this government will take in order to speed up those approvals and end the misery for my residents?

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MHCLG and the Building Safety regulator accept that many applicants have experienced delays and we recognise that having to wait 40 weeks for that having to wait 40 weeks for decisions is unacceptable. That is why the BSR has established a dedicated external remediation team, dedicated external remediation team, and we're engaging with their engaging with stakeholders to work

15:11

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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engaging with stakeholders to work through the detail of applications. A new batching model is being trialled to reduce the length of time taken to assess building control applications, while maintaining building and resident

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safety. Gareth Bacon Shadow Minister. Mr. Speaker, when announcing Mr. Speaker, when announcing reforms to the building safety regulator last June, the Secretary of State's Department promised to enhance the review of new build enhance the review of new build applications, unlock delays and boost sector confidence. But in London, where demand for housebuilding is highest, housebuilding has fallen to its lowest level since 2009 under the lowest level since 2009 under the last Labour government, a gateway two towards the end of quarter four 2025, there were still 740 live cases.

And on top of this, of the decisions that were made, the vast decisions that were made, the vast majority were either invalid, withdrawn or rejected. Indeed, 67% were not classed as approved for were not classed as approved for one reason or another. That's not success, is it? Yeah.

15:12

Gareth Bacon MP (Orpington, Conservative)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 11,962 new build homes have been approved in the past, 12 in the last 12 weeks, allowing construction to start. The BSR is moving forward. We will continue to press them to do to do better.

15:12

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Peckham. With all due respect, Mr. Speaker, the government needs to do an awful lot better than that. The government are hiding behind a The government are hiding behind a claim that a clear downward trend in live gateway to applications. But in London, the reality is that, according to the government's own statistics, across all categories, the number of live applications has fallen by a mere 6% in the last 12 weeks. That is hardly a reason to celebrate, is it? So will the government admit that they.

Sadiq Khan and their under-delivering reforms are hindering, rather than helping to get London building.

15:12

Gareth Bacon MP (Orpington, Conservative)

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Yeah.

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Mr. Speaker, performance continues to improve steadily across gateway two, and decisions across gateway two, and decisions are being made increasingly quickly and at higher volumes. We will continue to press the BSR to do

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continue to press the BSR to do better and faster. Imran Hussain number 11, sir.

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Minister. Mr. speaker, there are 1.3 million people on local authority housing registers across the housing registers across the country is not in dispute that there is a need across England as a whole. National policy makes clear that it's for local authorities, informed by local assessments of need to set out requirements for the proportion and type of affordable housing that should be delivered through new development, including the minimum proportion of social rented housing required and planned to meet that need.

15:13

Q11. What assessment his Department has made of the level of need for additional social and affordable housing in Bradford. (907911)

Sir, I thank the Minister and he

15:13

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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will know Bradford has one of the youngest and is one of the youngest and fastest growing cities yet. We are urgently and desperately in need of social and affordable housing. And the reality is homelessness is on the rise and we homelessness is on the rise and we have record levels of people on the waiting list. Families simply

15:13

Imran Hussain MP (Bradford East, Labour)

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waiting list. Families simply cannot get decent houses. So will the Minister give me assurances whilst I welcome the government's ambitious home building programme, will he give me assurances that there will be adequate measures in there to address the need for social and affordable housing? And whilst local government will have some say, we must give clear directions.

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I thank my hon. Friend for his question and given the acute need for affordable housing in Bradford, I understand entirely why he I understand entirely why he continues to press so vigorously for an uplift in the supply of affordable, but particularly social affordable, but particularly social rented housing in his constituency. My hon. Friend will, I know welcome the fact that bidding for grant funding from our new 39 billion funding from our new 39 billion Social and Affordable Homes programme will open in the coming days.

60% of that 39 billion is days. 60% of that 39 billion is targeted at social rent, and it will also know that the government is currently consulting on a new national planning policy framework, including proposals designed to further support the delivery of social and affordable housing, such as setting a national expectation as setting a national expectation of at least 10% social rent on all new developments.

15:14

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Catherine Atkinson 12, Mr Speaker.

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Minister. Mr. speaker, we are very clear

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Mr. speaker, we are very clear that communities should be in the driving seat and so whether that is through local people coming together in a neighbourhood board led by an independent chair from the community to develop a plan to invest 20 million of Pride in Place funding over the next decade. But there is also an expectation on

15:15

Q12. What mechanisms his Department has put in place to ensure that communities are consulted on the use of Pride in Place funding in Derby North constituency. (907912)

that board to kick off a much wider conversation with the community, reaching parts of the community that aren't normally around the table, that are locked out of decision, and the community engagement will be supported by 150,000 for every place in order to 150,000 for every place in order to make sure that we are reaching people, speaking to them and making sure that they are at the very heart of this plan. heart of this plan.

15:15

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Catherine Atkinson thank you, Mr. Speaker. For me, the most exciting thing about the £20 million Pride in Place funding for East and West in my constituency is that local people decide how it's spent, because people in Chad know their community better than anyone. And I've already had some great suggestions, including creating opportunities for young people, tackling loneliness for older people, and addressing anti-social behaviour in the area. How is government ensuring that local voices are heard and acted on?

15:16

Catherine Atkinson MP (Derby North, Labour)

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Mr.

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Mr. speaker, my hon. Friend is completely right. Local people in Chaddesden West know what their Chaddesden West know what their priorities are, and therefore should absolutely be in the driving seat. And can I thank her for both seat. And can I thank her for both championing, but the work that she is doing to make Pride in Place a success. 250,000 funding so that we can reach out. Go on to the estates. Go into the neighbourhoods in order to have a conversation with the have a conversation with the community to drive the change that they want to see.

15:16

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Rachael Maskell thank you. Question 14 please. Mr.

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Mr. speaker, to honour our commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation, house building in a generation, we've backed registered providers with the biggest social and affordable housing investment in recent memory. And while there is recent memory. And while there is more to do, we've already taken steps to strengthen the existing developer contribution system to ensure new developments, provide

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ensure new developments, provide affordable homes and infrastructure for. Central, will create 12,500 new

15:17

Q14. What steps he is taking to help increase the proportion of social and affordable housing in new developments. (907914)

>> Central, will create 12,500 new jobs and 3000 new homes in phase one before the planning committee

15:17

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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in May. Yet just 20% is allocated to affordable. But there must be an ambition for 40% because York has ambition for 40% because York has one of the worst housing affordability disparities in the country. So we must reach that country. So we must reach that target or else our housing crisis will worsen. So will he meet with

15:17

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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me to discuss York Central and set out what steps he will take with Homes England to ensure we don't just achieve housing numbers, but

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just achieve housing numbers, but we meet local need. Mr. speaker, we need to build many more homes of all tenures. But it is absolutely right to stress the importance of delivering a significant uplift in social and affordable homes. I am aware that discussions are ongoing about increasing the proportion of affordable housing within the York Central scheme. I'd encourage the developer to work with Homes England and relevant registered providers to maximise the potential for social and affordable housing in its first phase, and I'm more than happy to ensure my hon.

Friend

15:18

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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gets an appointment at one of my forthcoming tea room surgeries. Gagan Mohindra. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the House will know, Speaker. As the House will know, local plans are a method in which we can identify affordable homes and making sure they are in the right place at the right time. right place at the right time. Since I was elected back in December 2019, I've consistently asked the Liberal Democrat District Council to get on with the Local Council to get on with the Local Plan hours.

As the Housing Minister will know, the latest version of that plan did not have sufficient evidence and therefore he has had evidence and therefore he has had to rightly call it in. Does the Minister agree with me that the Lib Dems need to get on with delivering

15:18

Mr Gagan Mohindra MP (South West Hertfordshire, Conservative)

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the local plan and they continue, and they should not continue to fail? My residents in South West Hertfordshire. The hon. Gentleman Hertfordshire. The hon. Gentleman will understand that I can't discuss any specific local plan, but what I would say in general terms is any party that controls any local planning authority across the country must take active and the country must take active and firm steps to get up to date local plans in place. They are the best way for local communities to shape development.

Without them in place, communities are open to speculative development that doesn't have resident input. That is why we are pushing for universal coverage across the country.

15:19

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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So Preston 15 Mr Speaker. >> So Preston 15 Mr Speaker. >> Minister. >> Mr. speaker, local development plans, as I've said, should address plans, as I've said, should address needs and opportunities in relation not only to housing numbers but infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward through changes to national planning policy and financial support for essential infrastructure through land and infrastructure funding programmes. The government is also supporting infrastructure provision, but we recognise that there is more to do to make sure the right infrastructure gets built at the right time.

15:19

Q15. What steps he plans to take to ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to infrastructure. (907915)

Sarah Green Mr. speaker, I'm

15:19

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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keen to hear what work the department has underway to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place when the cumulative effect of place when the cumulative effect of lots of smaller developments is the same as one large development. This is a live issue in Buckinghamshire is a live issue in Buckinghamshire where we don't yet have a local plan. Would the Minister meet with me to hear about the struggles me to hear about the struggles communities are currently facing in getting the relevant agencies to engage, when the cumulative effect

15:20

Sarah Green MP (Chesham and Amersham, Liberal Democrat)

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engage, when the cumulative effect will have the same impact on the sewerage system and the GP provision as one big development.

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Yeah, I think the hon. Lady for that question, Mr. Speaker, it is not the whole answer, but having an not the whole answer, but having an up to date local plan in place and an up to date infrastructure funding statement can make a huge difference in ensuring the right difference in ensuring the right infrastructure is coming forward at the appropriate time. I'm more than happy to meet with the hon. Lady to discuss what we can do, not only to get her local authority to get its plan in place as quickly as possible, but what we can do to possible, but what we can do to bring development and infrastructure forward on individual developments in her constituency in the right way.

Speaker.

15:20

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Until local roads are adopted, communities miss out on so much from having their roads gritted to I found out getting a post box. And how can we make sure councils like Central Bedfordshire speed up?

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I think it's probably easier. Mr. speaker, if my hon. Friend writes to me, particularly concerns writes to me, particularly concerns in her area, and I will set out the government's full position, and I'm happy to discuss in further detail the matter she raises.

15:21

Alex Mayer MP (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, Labour)

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>> Right. Let's just move on to topical Anna Dixon. >> Question one, Mr. Speaker.

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Question one, Mr. Speaker. Mr. speaker, earlier this month, the Prime Minister confirmed that 40 more places will join the Pride

15:21

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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40 more places will join the Pride in Place programme. That means that nearly 300 communities will benefit from this transformational programme. These are the areas held back the most by the previous government. They will receive up to £20 million each over ten years. A transformational level of funding. But importantly, it's local people who will decide how that money is spent because this government spent because this government recognises it's local people who know best what needs to change to bring back pride to the heart of bring back pride to the heart of the place they call home.

15:21

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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Anna Dixon.

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fragmented. There is a. Real threat that at the next general election, a minority general election, a minority extreme party could win a majority of seats with just a fraction of the popular vote. The situation is the popular vote. The situation is urgent. 60% of the public now supporting proportional representation. Would the Minister representation. Would the Minister meet with me and other members of the all party parliamentary group fair Elections to discuss the case

15:22

Anna Dixon MP (Shipley, Labour)

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fair Elections to discuss the case for a national Commission on electoral reform?

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The government shall be disappointed to hear. Has no plans to change the electoral system for to change the electoral system for UK parliamentary or local council elections in England. And indeed, the last time a government called a referendum on proportional representation, the public rejected it. The government believes that it. The government believes that while first past the post is not always perfect, it provides a very important direct relationship between members of this chamber and their local constituents. I will, of course, make sure that she gets an appropriate meeting.

15:23

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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So the Secretary of State, Sir

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James Cleverly EIGA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. An estimated 48,000 new entrants a year are needed in the a year are needed in the construction sector to meet the government's 1.5 million homes target apprenticeships starts are target apprenticeships starts are around half that figure, and apprenticeship completions are less than a quarter of that figure. So than a quarter of that figure. So does the Secretary of State now accept that his target will not be met? That there is a growing

15:23

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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met? That there is a growing construction skills crisis under Labour, and that the government has no credible plan to deliver the

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workforce needed to build these homes. Yes. Well, the government remains

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Well, the government remains fully committed to meeting the 1.5 million homes new homes target. million homes new homes target. We're working with the sector to ensure that happens. Local authorities now have housing targets again, which sadly the government that he was a member of scrapped. We're investing £600 million to increase vocational million to increase vocational skills and training to ensure that we have the supply of workers that the sector needs, and we're working closely with developers themselves who are also helping to fund the need for a pipeline of talent to need for a pipeline of talent to build the homes this country needs.

15:24

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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James. hon. Friends have already highlighted in London under a Labour mayor and a Labour government, House building has collapsed to less than 60% of the target in October. Mr. speaker, the Secretary of State said my job should be on the line if I fail to meet my target. So as the 1.5 million homes will not be built, is he going to keep his promise and resign, or is he going to wait to resign, or is he going to wait to be fired by whoever replaces the Prime Minister after the May elections?

15:24

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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He will be aware, since he was a member of the previous government, that housebuilding across the country collapsed in 2324 under the previous government chose to do nothing. This month, the Social and Affordable Homes programme opens for bids. London will get 30% of that worth over £11 billion. That will help to provide the biggest increase in social and affordable homes in London and across the country. This country has seen.

15:25

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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David Williams.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I support the government's plans to build 1.5 million homes and in build 1.5 million homes and in Stoke on Trent and Kidsgrove. Families and first time buyers really do need them. Residents in really do need them. Residents in Packmoor, Balgreen, Norton Green and talk understand at two. But does the Minister agree with me does the Minister agree with me that development should be brownfield first, protecting green space wherever possible and backed space wherever possible and backed by the investment in infrastructure that our communities need and deserve?

15:25

David Williams MP (Stoke-on-Trent North, Labour)

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I can give my hon. Friend the assurances he seeks, Mr. Speaker, and I'd encourage him and his constituents to engage with proposals in the consultation on a revised Nppf that seek to further strengthen support for brownfield development and ensure appropriate infrastructure provisions. Alongside that development, come forward.

15:26

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Andrew George. The Ministers >> Andrew George. The Ministers know full well that a planning application submitted today for affordable homes will not affordable homes will not contribute to the government's, though welcome intention to meet affordable housing need by the end of this, of this Parliament is simply the Minister is shaking his head. This simply is not possible through the predevelopment process. And although I've met the Secretary of State to discuss how we can move forward, shovel ready projects which are actually held back at the moment, will Ministers meet members of Parliament that are concerned about the thousands of homes which could be delivered now, could start on site right now, and so that we can get Britain building and meet the desperate need for affordable homes.

Yes. homes. Yes.

15:26

Andrew George MP (St Ives, Liberal Democrat)

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I don't accept his characterisation of development that can come forward, that will be funded through our new Social and Affordable Homes programme. We're ensuring that that programme has the necessary flexibility to fund provision across the country, whether it be community led housing, rural housing and our new homes. Accelerated is doing precisely what the hon. Gentleman says going in, unblocking the problem site by site to get development going.

15:27

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Cooper thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Select Committee has just published a report on social published a report on social housing conditions warning that just under 430,000 social homes are non decent. Additional research also shows that in the North, over 100,000 social homes are reaching end of life over the next ten years. I'm chairing the Westminster Group of inquiry, looking at how housing led regeneration in the North can improve housing conditions, support the delivery of new homes and growth. Will the Minister meet with me and and reps from the National Northern Housing Consortium to discuss this important issue here? discuss this important issue here?

15:27

Andrew Cooper MP (Mid Cheshire, Labour)

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I have met with Northern Northern Housing Consortium on a number of occasions. My hon. Friend will know that funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme can be used to support the regeneration of existing social housing estates. If he wants to write to me with further details about some of the recommendations he's suggested, I'd be more than happy to respond.

15:28

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many park home residents in south Shropshire are really concerned Shropshire are really concerned about the 10% sales commission and think it's unfair. I know the government has committed to a government has committed to a consultation. Will they speed this up and basically just scrap the unfair commission?

15:28

Stuart Anderson MP (South Shropshire, Conservative)

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We do need to better understand because the answers were not forthcoming in the consultation carried out under the previous carried out under the previous government, what the rationale for the Commission is. But I can assure him that in the very near future we him that in the very near future we will go out to consult and to find more evidence that we need so that we can take the action in this area that is so desperately needed.

15:28

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Michael Wheeler. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So in my constituency of Speaker. So in my constituency of Worsley and Eccles, I know that the residents of Peel Green and the surrounding area, including the surrounding area, including the enthusiastic pupils of Salford City Academy, are really looking to get their hands on the Pride in Place money. What measures, what steps is this government taking to make sure that they are at the forefront? They take the lead and they decide.

15:29

Michael Wheeler MP (Worsley and Eccles, Labour)

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Thank you to my hon. Friend for all the work that he is doing with his community on Pride in Place. We are very, very clear that the community should be in the driving seat and we are setting a clear expectation that all places will have forms of community led delivery by the third year, and that creates the opportunity for community interest companies, cooperatives and other models. Because at the heart of this is the principle that the people who know their patch the best should be in the driving seat of changing their place.

15:29

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Kim Leadbeater thank you. Fund stopping for Moray Council in my constituency, associated progress in digital connectivity will stop business advice and road services will reduce and there will be a much reduced skills development programme. A total of 14 staff will be made redundant with scope for redeployment. Why is the Minister content to preside over these funding cuts and redundancies?

15:30

Graham Leadbitter MP (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, Scottish National Party)

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Mr. speaker, what I would say to the member opposite is we have committed to local growth funding to boost growth in Scotland. We have also delivered record investment to the Scottish Government that does have within its gift to invest in its communities, to invest in programmes that will drive the prosperity of its local area. They should not be looking to national government where we have done their part over to the SNP.

15:30

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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No thank you, Mr. Speaker. While I very much welcome that the red line in Sutton has had its ACV status extended by a year, this does not completely protect it from future planning applications. Would the Minister agree to meet with me and discuss this case and the railway pub in Norton Bridge to understand how the government could best support these sites and save them for future community use? Yes.

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Thank you to my hon. Friend. Yes, I will absolutely meet with her Charlie Dewhirst.

15:30

Charlie Dewhirst. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now, the Secretary of State will be well issues. >> With agricultural planning. So

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With agricultural planning. So will he guarantee the House will take urgent action to unblock the system and unlock tens of millions of pounds back into the rural

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of pounds back into the rural economy? Mr. It's quite difficult to understand from that question

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understand from that question precisely what the hon. Gentleman is getting at. If he wants to write to me, I'll happily respond. Sam Rushworth. OK, Mr.

15:31

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Speaker, I know that people who elect us to this place believe that public standards in our politicians

15:31

Charlie Dewhirst MP (Bridlington and The Wolds, Conservative)

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is really important, whether that's at a national or a local level. There's growing concern about the There's growing concern about the leader and deputy leader of our reform led council in Durham and their public behaviour, but they've

15:31

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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their public behaviour, but they've changed the regime for standards so that only a committee of three with two reform members looks at those issues. So will the Minister issues. So will the Minister consider an independent Commissioner for standards for Local Government to make sure that

15:31

Sam Rushworth MP (Bishop Auckland, Labour)

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we can hold our representatives to account? >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I was going to get away with not answering any questions, but I would just say to the hon. Member that he raises a very important issue. On the 11th of November last year, we published a government response to a consultation, and I am anxious to get on with taking more steps to address the kind of thing he raises as quickly as we can.

15:32

Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Birkenhead, Labour)

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So Julian Lewis Smethwick. Yorkshire under massive pressure ni the workers rights bill rates. The list goes on. Energy. Energy costs. list goes on. Energy. Energy costs. Now that the consultation on the tourist tax has closed. Will he put that tax on pause in the interests of job creation for young people? The stats today were truly appalling.

15:32

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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Mr. speaker, the tourism levy is something that our mayors and local areas have campaigned for. We are consulting on that at the moment, but we are very, very clear that there will be a balance between the ability of areas to generate that tax and ensuring that local businesses and SMEs are thriving in the area, which is both the remit and the priority of the mayors, and it is the remit and the priority of the government.

15:33

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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Mr. speaker, an application was made recently for a 24 hour gambling casino in Crystal Palace gambling casino in Crystal Palace along with Labour councillors, the Labour MP for Croydon Stockton North and over 1000 local residents. We are opposing this predatory operator from opening. Will the Minister join me in calling on the conservative run council to listen to residents and block this application?

15:33

Liam Conlon MP (Beckenham and Penge, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, can I thank my hon. Friend for his very effective and Friend for his very effective and committed campaign? Look, we are very, very clear that local areas should be given the power to shape their high streets. And when we have things like gambling shops and casinos that are working against what communities want, it is absolutely right that the council takes action. This is an area that I know that I and the Secretary of

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State are very committed to working with my hon. Friend on. Good job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

15:33

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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>> Good job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Last year, London was. >> Meant to start 88,000 new homes.

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Meant to start 88,000 new homes. Instead, they started 5891. That that shortfall has a direct impact

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that shortfall has a direct impact constituency. Can the Secretary of State say

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why he is allowing Sadiq Khan to run circles around him in. Mr. speaker, the government has recognised openly that there is a perfect storm when it comes to housebuilding in London. That's precisely why we ought to consult on an emergency package. As you will know, the consultation closed just weeks ago and he doesn't have just weeks ago and he doesn't have long to wait. Will we come forward with next steps?

15:34

Lincoln Jopp MP (Spelthorne, Conservative)

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Dan Carden.

15:34

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Private market rents are most extortionate in working class communities in working class communities mine, where you can still buy a terraced house for around 70,000. So far, the government has kept So far, the government has kept regulation linked to market rents. But we could do something different. We could do something the Tories and Reform cannot do, but which previous Labour governments did do. And that is like Harold Wilson's fair rents. Rent control in deprived areas with poor housing stock.

So will Ministers at least stock. So will Ministers at least consider a pilot and why not in Liverpool?

15:34

Dan Carden MP (Liverpool Walton, Labour)

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I'm sorry to disappoint my hon. Friend, but the government has been very clear. We do not support rent controls. The provisions of our Renters Rights Act will ensure that landlords can only increase rent once a year, and that tenants are empowered to challenge unreasonable rent increases.

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Alex Brewer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What measures is the Minister taking to measures is the Minister taking to protect communities from inappropriate speculative development when effective and

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development when effective and expensive? Local plans that were working have been rendered useless by new housing targets? Yeah.

15:35

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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>> Yeah. >> Well, if a local planning authority has an up to date local plan in place, it will be up to plan in place, it will be up to date and in place until it needs to be replaced, at which point we expect the targets that flow from the new standard method to be adhered to.

15:35

Alex Brewer MP (North East Hampshire, Liberal Democrat)

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Valerie Vaz. with me to discuss the decisions of Walsall Council, including the closure of the Leather Museum against the wishes of local people?

15:36

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I will, Mr. Speaker. >> Wendy Morton. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Speaker. Another request from Walsall borough residents from me.

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me. The Secretary of State earlier today said local. People know best. I've sent him an invitation to a peaceful protest in Aldridge on Saturday, where residents from right across the constituency are coming together to protect their precious green belt. Will he come precious green belt. Will he come and meet with them, please?

15:36

Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Birkenhead, Labour)

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Yeah, yeah. Very good. diary is already full up. I've been in another part of the country on Saturday, but I'm sure her constituents would also want to see the homes built that they and their future.

15:36

Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)

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Amanda Hack. to improve the infrastructure surrounding new developments and our existing developments, while ensuring that highways in local government have who felt the full impact of austerity, have the resources to deliver. What conversations are the Minister had to expand capacity in local government to ensure highways have the appropriate resources to deliver the infrastructure that we need?

15:37

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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Mr. speaker, we have provided significant support for local planning authorities to help them with capacity and capability pressures, and she will know that through the provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Act, we are allowing local authorities to set their own fees at a local level set their own fees at a local level covered.

15:37

Amanda Hack MP (North West Leicestershire, Labour)

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Aphra Brandreth here, here, here, here, here.

15:37

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Build housing developments in my constituency of Chester South and Eddisbury, where developers have sold the properties and moved on sold the properties and moved on without completing the work for vital infrastructure like roads and sewers. What consideration has the Secretary of State given to allowing councils to refuse future planning permission to developers with a record of leaving developments incomplete?

15:37

Aphra Brandreth MP (Chester South and Eddisbury, Conservative)

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Good point. >> Well, as part of the proposals, we set out in a build out working paper last year, we are looking at some of the powers in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act that do Up and Regeneration Act that do allow local planning authorities to refuse planning permissions to developers who consistently don't build out on the issue of highways. If you would like to write to me with some more detail, I'll happily respond to.

15:38

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Laurence Turner much. >> Mr. speaker. >> Does the Minister agree that Birmingham's exit from section 114 status is an important moment for the city? And do they further agree that it's time to start scaling back the central government intervention?

15:38

Laurence Turner MP (Birmingham Northfield, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Birmingham City Council has strengthened its financial position strengthened its financial position and its balanced Budget proposal for 2627 is a significant milestone, and this has been made possible by and this has been made possible by the government's funding reforms, which increased Birmingham's core spending power by 45% from 2425 to 2829. Because we recognise that council should be funded in line with poverty and deprivation.

15:38

Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Birkenhead, Labour)

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To Al Pinkerton. protections afforded by local plans, but in areas like Surrey Heath and Guildford, which have experienced a near doubling of housing targets, those protections have been stripped away. According to the tilted balance approach. So can I ask the Minister what protections is he going to put in place, at least as a temporary measure to protect our communities from speculative development? Yeah.

15:39

Dr Al Pinkerton MP (Surrey Heath, Liberal Democrat)

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Well, local plans that are up to date do provide protection in date do provide protection in favour of development. Of course, local authorities have to ensure they're meeting housing delivery targets. That is an essential part of the system. Again, if he wants to write to me with further detail, I'll happily respond.

15:39

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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But. >> But. >> Mr. Speaker, this government has announced that it is awarding over £18 million to Cleveland Borough £18 million to Cleveland Borough Council to help them tackle the broken children's social care market. And while this is very welcome, it is a shame, of course, welcome, it is a shame, of course, that it is necessary and so will Ministers meet with my council leader to discuss what further support can be put in place to make sure that this is not needed into the future.

15:39

Luke Myer MP (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my friend for raising what is an incredibly important issue and working closely with DfE Ministers working closely with DfE Ministers on it. And I had the pleasure of speaking to a representative from Redcar and Cleveland earlier today, but I'll keep doing that with him as well.

15:40

Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Birkenhead, Labour)

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Alicia Kearns thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm afraid this question may feel like Groundhog Day because may feel like Groundhog Day because this time last month I asked for a meeting about local government reform because my residents are so concerned. I was promised a meeting and yet chasing at least twice a week, every single week. For the last month, we've had zero response from the department. When are we going to get the meetings? We're promising this chamber on really important matters.

15:40

Alicia Kearns MP (Rutland and Stamford, Conservative)

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IDA. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the hon. Lady for chasing that. I'm sure we'll meet before too long. Local government. Local too long. Local government. Local government reorganisation. Local government reorganisation is an important issue. I don't think it's funny either, but I would just say to her, I would just say, I would just say to her, we will meet before too long and get on with it, because local government reorganisation is very important.

15:40

Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Birkenhead, Labour)

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Euan Stainbank, Mr Speaker and Falkirk, an allocation from Labour's Impact Fund, has addressed a funding gap that would have otherwise risked the delivery of Scottish Canals. National centre for excellence for Canals and Traditional Skills. Will the Minister visit this regeneration project once completed to celebrate this Labour government's investment

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supporting in Falkirk. Thank you to my friend. Yes, I

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Thank you to my friend. Yes, I or one of my colleagues will happily come and visit this fantastic scheme.

15:41

Euan Stainbank MP (Falkirk, Labour)

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fantastic scheme. >> Josh Babarinde. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne is. >> Unique in that it's the only

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Unique in that it's the only harbour in the country where freeholders and leaseholders, through their rent charge, have to through their rent charge, have to pay not only for the maintenance of the area but also for sea defences rather than the government. So will the Secretary of State commit to meeting with me to review this meeting with me to review this arrangement, review the fairness of it and help to stem the tide of 16% increases in that rent charge this year.

15:41

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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Not just because I've accepted a large number of meetings, but I think the far better way. The hon. Gentleman to submit his views is through the appropriate consultation on freehold estates, where he can bring that to life for us and the issues it raises.

15:41

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Final question, Jim Allister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Having seen the closure of the two largest retailers in the main shopping retailers in the main shopping street in Ballymena in my constituency in recent weeks, does the Minister think that the the Minister think that the ideology of pride in place is capable of rescuing the situation? And as part of that, would it be possible to have a special programme whereby large retail spaces whose overheads are unbearable could be subdivided into unbearable could be subdivided into small retail units for new businesses, so that the overheads might indeed become bearable.

15:42

Jim Allister KC MP (North Antrim, Traditional Unionist Voice)

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Thank you to the Member for raising this point. Look, the the plight of our high streets is one that this government is very, very, very alive to and that we are trying to work with national governments and local governments to make sure that we respond. Our job is to make sure that we are providing the powers and the ability for places to shape their high street so that it responds to what their communities want. And in that space, we are open to ideas and those ideas coming from local areas.

15:43

Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Peckham, Labour )

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From banks, change over.

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Burghart shadow Secretary. To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to make a Duchy of Lancaster to make a statement on the Cabinet. Cabinet office review into Labour Together and Apco worldwide.

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and Apco worldwide. Secretary Jones. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy. The government is committed to upholding and protecting that freedom.

15:43

Urgent question: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Cabinet Office review into Labour Together and APCO Worldwide

protecting that freedom. Journalists must be able to do their job without fear or favour, including holding politicians of

15:43

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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all political parties to account on behalf of the public that we all serve. In the last week, there have serve. In the last week, there have been a number of media reports about the actions of the think tank

15:44

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Labour Together in 2023 and 2024. Some of those media reports have included allegations about the

15:44

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister) (Bristol North West, Labour)

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conduct of the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of state between the Cabinet Office and the Department for science, Innovation and Technology. The hon. Member for Makerfield, who was previously the Director of Labour Together as the Prime Minister, confirmed last week, he asked civil servants in the Cabinet Office proprietary and ethics team to establish the facts as members across the House will know, all civil servants are bound by the Civil Service Code, which dictates that they act with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. The exercise to establish the facts around these allegations was bound by those principles.

That work has now concluded and the facts have been reported to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has been advised that the matter should be referred now to the Independent adviser on Ministerial standards, which the Prime Minister has done today. Mr. speaker, this is not a new process but a continuation of the process the Prime Minister has started and the Prime Minister will make a judgement when he has received the advice from the independent adviser. This will happen very soon and his advice to the Prime Minister will be made public in the normal way.

The independent adviser is appointed to provide impartial, independent advice to the Prime Minister in line with his published terms of reference. The current independent adviser was appointed under the last administration by the Prime Minister's predecessor, and is independent of the government. He will provide his independent advice directly to the Prime Minister. Mr. speaker, I would like to reiterate again that a free and independent press is an absolutely essential part of a free, open and democratic society and is one of the things that makes our country great.

Representing the public as a Minister is a privilege and a duty, and public scrutiny is rightly part of that. The government is committed to protecting freedom of the press, and no journalist should ever be intimidated for trying to hold

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those in power to account. Alex Burghart GEF. Thank you for granting this

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Thank you for granting this urgent question, sir, and the details of this story are quite extraordinary, even by the standards of this government. standards of this government. Whilst director of the think tank Labour Together, the now Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Member for the Cabinet Office, the Member for Makerfield paid a PR agency to investigate the backgrounds and motivations of British journalists who had written about Labour Together's breaches of electoral law, of which there were many more than 20, the most famous being a failure to declare £730,000 worth of

15:46

Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)

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donations. The agency produced a report which included an allegation that those journalists in question that those journalists in question had relied on Russian hacking. Needless to say, those reports were Needless to say, those reports were entirely spurious. The Minister has claimed that the agency acted beyond its brief. But in the past few days, an email from the agency to the Minister has been published showing that he was shown that a, quote, human intelligence investigation into these journalists would take place. That investigation included details of one journalist's Jewish faith, and made claims about his ideological upbringing and personal relationships.

The report was then circulated to key members of the Labour Party and to GCHQ, who swiftly said there was no case to answer. Mr. speaker, this looks, to all intents and purposes, like a deliberate attempt to smear and intimidate journalists whose only crime had been to report that Labour together had broken electoral law. As of today, it is very difficult to see how the minister's position is tenable. The referral to the independent adviser, which the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has just announced, is the right thing to do, but it should have been done immediately.

It should not have been the case that this was dealt with internally in the Cabinet Office, where the Minister in question is a Minister. He is a Minister with responsibility for inquiries and whistleblowing. He couldn't make this stuff up. And so I must ask the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, why has the Minister not been suspended whilst this investigation is going on? We must also ask because he refers to the work of the proprietary and ethics team, must also ask about the membership of that team.

Currently, because it is known that a political appointment was made to a civil service role of a woman who was previously an employee of Labour Together. Does he now accept that that that appointment was wrong? It must also be the case, Mr. Speaker, that very many people took money from Labour together. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Foreign Secretary, the Home Secretary, the deputy Prime Minister, the list goes on. An organisation set up to conceal the source of its donations from the public and from the Labour Party.

Is it not time for an investigation into Labour together?

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Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll take the questions in reverse order. take the questions in reverse order. The Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster accused me of taking money from Labour together. That is money from Labour together. That is not true. Mr. speaker, I had a number of seconded staff into my office as a shadow member of the office as a shadow member of the Shadow Cabinet, which is, I'm sure members opposite will know as an important contribution that is made to political parties when you do to political parties when you do not have access.

When the opposition doesn't have access to the civil service. But no money was

15:49

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister) (Bristol North West, Labour)

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taken. Not £1, not one penny and seconded staff were reported in the proper way. So I hope that the Shadow Chancellor might be able to Shadow Chancellor might be able to revoke those comments when he gets the opportunity to do so. His second question was about the investigation being led by the investigation being led by the proprietary and ethics team. I can confirm that that was led by a senior member of staff, which is not the member of staff he was referring to, who reported directly to the Prime Minister.

And his first question was why the Minister in question is not suspended while this investigation is taking place. It's because the establishment of the independent Adviser on Ethics can only investigate Ministers whilst they are in office. If the Minister had been suspended or removed from office, the independent adviser would not be able to undertake his work. And the Prime Minister thinks it is important that the independent adviser is given the opportunity to

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do just that. Jon Trickett very much indeed, Mr. Speaker. And can I put it to Mr. Speaker. And can I put it to the Minister that a significant number of Ministers in this government did receive large sums government did receive large sums of money, including himself, from Labour together? And I wonder whether he's I think he received whether he's I think he received almost £60,000. He's shaking his head. If that's if that's untrue, then I'll withdraw it. But still a then I'll withdraw it.

But still a number of Ministers did. And my point is this did it not leave a

15:50

Jon Trickett MP (Normanton and Hemsworth, Labour)

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bad taste in many people's minds minds in the country? If you can have a bad taste in your mind that so many Ministers were standing in judgement on another Minister who judgement on another Minister who himself had been the Director of Labour together, putting all that together. It is clearly the right together. It is clearly the right thing to do to hand all of this investigation over to a third independent party. But can I say narrowing the investigation down to simply one man is a mistake.

When Labour together itself has made a number of serious blunders.

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Mr. speaker, to repeat myself, just for the record, I did not receive £1 in money from Labour together, and I would appreciate it together, and I would appreciate it if members didn't keep repeating that falsehood. His his question about the independent adviser is in it's in the title, the independent adviser is independent of government and is looking at this in the proper way, as he would expect. And we will wait for that advice to come to the Prime Minister, which, as I say, I expect

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happen very shortly. spokesperson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Liberal Democrats are

15:51

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister) (Bristol North West, Labour)

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appalled by reports of smear tactics being used by the party who came into government with a promise came into government with a promise to clean up politics after a decade of sleaze under the Conservatives. Investigative journalists have a Investigative journalists have a vital role to play in holding governments to account, and commercial entities. A free and fair press is the cornerstone of a thriving democracy, and this revelation is an outrageous attack on our free press. So can the

15:51

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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on our free press. So can the government clarify what steps they are taking to uphold the independence of journalism in this country? Successive governments have eroded the public's trust in politics. So will this government now implement the Liberal Democrat suggestion of putting the ministerial code on a statutory footing? And I've heard what the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has said about keeping Minister Simons in his job while the investigation takes place. But would he not agree with me? This is yet one more example of the government insisting that process has to take precedence over political judgement, and can a way not be found for the Minister to

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step aside while a full investigation is undertaken? Yes.

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I thank the hon. Lady for her question. The best route for independent investigations of these types is the independent ethics types is the independent ethics adviser, and as I've informed the House, he can only investigate sitting Ministers. That process is sitting Ministers. That process is important, and whilst it's not for me to make the case one way or the other for the Minister in question, other for the Minister in question, he refutes the allegations and needs to be given the chance to go through that process.

The independent adviser will then independently give a view to the Prime Minister in relation to the ministerial code and other issues, and then ultimately, it is a question for the Prime Minister as to what should happen next. I would also just slightly correct her, if I may. I think the accusations I may. I think the accusations being made are not against the Labour Party or the government, but against the think tank Labour Together.

15:53

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Minister of State (Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister) (Bristol North West, Labour)

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John McDonnell. parliamentary group, and we take a specific role in trying to protect the interests of journalists, able to report honestly and fairly across the world. What we saw in this activity, we believe, was an attempt to smear journalists, to prevent them publishing the truth,

15:53

Rt Hon John McDonnell MP (Hayes and Harlington, Labour)

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reporting the truth. So that's why I've written on five occasions to the general secretary of the Labour Party and to the Prime Minister asking for an independent inquiry. asking for an independent inquiry. I was told in the end that there was an inquiry going on by the Communications and Public Relations Association. That's not a regulatory body. I was told the Cabinet Office was then assembling Cabinet Office was then assembling the facts, not an investigation, but assembling the facts. And we now know actually the Labour to Ex-labour together staffer within that team itself.

And we do know that Ministers have received donations often to their office or their campaign. And the scale of those donations from Labour together is shocking. To be frank, it's almost as though an organisation has bought a political party. That's some of our worries. And now we're told this will be referred to the independent adviser. Is it true that the independent adviser will investigate the whole sequence of events around this with regard to Labour together, not just the role of this individual MP, now a junior Minister within government during that period whilst he was an MP or a Minister.

But we get the full truth of what went on because this at the moment does not pass the smell test as far as I'm concerned.

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Yeah. Mr. Gentleman. Mr. speaker, as the House will know, the independent adviser on know, the independent adviser on ethics has the remit to investigate Ministers on behalf of the Prime Ministers on behalf of the Prime Minister in relation to concerns that the government has standing to ask those questions. Any questions about what happened or did not happen within Labour, together as a private organisation is a matter

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private organisation is a matter for the Board of Labour together. There you are, sir. Alec Shelbrooke. Thank you very much,

15:55

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Mr. Speaker. Mr. speaker, to. Order, please. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To paraphrase Churchill, a free society at the cornerstone is a free press, and I'm afraid that free press, and I'm afraid that whatever the investigation may be looking into, Minister Simmons has Josh Simons has admitted that he Josh Simons has admitted that he set the investigation going because he didn't like the report that had been issued into donations. That shouldn't need an independent inquiry. Mr. speaker, the Prime Minister should sack this Minister Minister should sack this Minister now.

So the Minister is here as Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, effectively representing Minister, effectively representing the Prime Minister. So I ask, Mr. Speaker, will the Prime Minister U-turn before or after Prime Minister's questions this week?

15:56

Rt Hon Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP (Wetherby and Easingwold, Conservative)

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Senator Johnson? the independent adviser to follow for advice to be presented to the Prime Minister. And at that point, the Prime Minister will make a decision.

15:56

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Rachael Maskell. expect integrity from our journalists and we expect integrity from our Ministers in the light from our Ministers in the light that we now hear. 109 MPs received funding from Labour Together. Can he say what involvement the Parliamentary Commissioner for standards has had, and what advice was given to those 109 MPs regarding reporting the funding that they received from Labour together?

15:56

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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Gerald Jones. individuals receive, whether from Labour Together or Trade Union Momentum or any other organisation, is a matter for them to declare in line with the rules. And I don't think there's been any accusation that members have been in breach of those rules.

15:57

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Esther McVey thank you, Mr. Speaker. The steps taken. >> By the former head of Labour together to smear journalists when they dared to look into the murky finances of this Labour think tank, is nothing short of chilling. No longer head of Labour, Together is longer head of Labour, Together is now serving as a Minister in the Cabinet Office. The department currently looking into his actions so he'll be marking his own homework. So when is the Member for Makerfield going to be sacked? If he won't do the decent thing and resign?

15:57

Rt Hon Esther McVey MP (Tatton, Conservative)

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Secretary Jones. process is being led by the Independent Adviser for ethics, which is not the Cabinet Office. And as I've said, the independent adviser will report to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister will then make a decision.

15:57

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Rebecca Long-Bailey. >> Rebecca Long-Bailey. >> Mr. speaker, I'm the chair of the NUJ parliamentary group, and we've long campaigned for press freedom, usually in relation to authoritarian regimes. But it seems that the surveillance and political that the surveillance and political intimidation of journalists is a threat much closer to home. And as we've heard today, that threat is not being adequately investigated. So will the Minister agree with the NUJ, myself and other colleagues that we need an urgent, independent and transparent inquiry into the activities of Labour Together and Acpo, and we need stronger legislation to prevent the legislation to prevent the corporate surveillance of journalists.

15:58

Rebecca Long Bailey MP (Salford, Labour)

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Secretary Jones. independent adviser will be looking at the testimony and evidence in relation to the Minister in question and advising the Prime Minister in relation to actions where the government has standing. Questions for other agencies and organisations are either subject to their relevant trade bodies or for decisions for their private board.

15:58

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Christine Jardine. I'm a former journalist and member of the MoJ, and I cannot express sufficiently my anger at hearing sufficiently my anger at hearing that one of my former profession was investigated in this way in an attempt to intimidate them, the the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister has made a great play of the fact that it's not the government that investigated Labour together, but in the mind of the public. The two are now linked. Does the government not need to take urgent action to distance itself from this organisation, cut itself from this organisation, cut off links and make sure that there is some transparency about what exactly went on?

15:59

Christine Jardine MP (Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat)

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Good question.

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Secretary Jones. As I've said, Mr. Speaker, in relation to anything the government is responsible for, we of course, is responsible for, we of course, uphold the principles that the hon. Member speaks passionately about and which we and the government agree with wholeheartedly. And if agree with wholeheartedly. And if there are changes that need to be made in government, we stand ready to do so. As I say, for matters of private organisations, the government is unable to take the steps to investigate private organisations directly unless organisations directly unless there's a legal basis to do so, and therefore it's a question for the independent organisation to conduct its own investigations.

15:59

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Ian Lavery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm curious. I'm not sure who labour together or what they are, what the purpose is. I've got no idea whatsoever. However, if you believe and I don't believe everything I read in the newspapers, you'll see these very serious allegations. You know, it's suggested that up to more than 100 Labour MPs have received between

16:00

Ian Lavery MP (Blyth and Ashington, Labour)

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hundreds of pounds and hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations. That's the allegations in the press. That's the allegations in the press. With that in mind, can we clear this up? Instead of an investigation into one single individual, can there be an investigation into the entire investigation into the entire operations of Labour Together? Nobody knows who they are, and we

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need to find out. Sarah Jones. Mr. speaker, I thank my hon. Friend for his question. As he knows Labour Together is a private organisation. It is a question for its board what it does in relation to its conduct. And as I've said already to the House, any donations that have been received by individual members in the House, whether from Labour Together or from other organisations, have, as far as I'm aware, all been declared in line with the rules. And there's been no accusations to the to to to otherwise Steve Barclay.

16:01

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Can the Minister confirm that the new Head of Propriety and ethics was appointed without a ethics was appointed without a fully open competitive recruitment process, that the outgoing head of Propriety ethics was promoted to Permanent secretary? Also, without a fully open recruitment process. And he will know, if so, that both of those were in breach of rules put in place by the last government, by myself as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, unless an individual Minister signs off a waiver from that process, so can he waiver from that process, so can he say which Minister signed off such an exemption and why? Patronage is an exemption and why? Patronage is preferred to open recruitment for such sensitive roles.

16:02

Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (North East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)

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Sarah Jones Mr. speaker, I was not privy to those appointments and so I can't confirm the exact details that he asks of me. What I can say is that the senior civil servant, who is currently acting as the Director of propriety and Ethics, is a temporary appointment subject to a full recruitment in due course, which is in line with the rules that he's referred to.

16:02

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Apsana Begum. >> The severity of the. >> Allegations against Labour together cannot go amiss, the Minister says of the referral to the independent adviser that it would be then for the Prime Minister to decide. But given the Prime Minister's own Labour leadership campaign in 2020 was supported by Labour together, does he feel that this would be appropriate? And what of the

16:02

Apsana Begum MP (Poplar and Limehouse, Labour)

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allegations against Labour together, beyond the role of the one Cabinet Office Minister? What about those Office Minister? What about those allegations? Who will investigate them? The Minister himself said some weeks ago about the spirit of transparency and accountability following the role of Peter Mandelson. But is it not right, therefore, to actually be concerned, as a Minister, to actually want to see transparency and accountability see transparency and accountability on the allegations around Labour Together more widely?

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Ruth Jones the hon. Lady's question on transparency, I think, is answered by the fact that the independent advisers conclusions independent advisers conclusions and advice to the Prime Minister will be published in the normal way. It will be available for the public It will be available for the public and for this House to see the question on whether the Prime Minister is the appropriate person to decide. Of course, constitutionally, the Prime constitutionally, the Prime Minister is the only person that gets to decide which Ministers he advises His Majesty the King to

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advises His Majesty the King to appoint or to dismiss in the circumstances set out. And so it is right for the Prime Minister to come to that judgement. Pete Wishart.

16:03

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Bristol North West, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What of no doubt whatsoever is that countless Labour MPs took money from Labour together and Anas Sarwar, and is now estranged. Scottish Labour MPs must come clean about their close financial and personal relationships with the solid organisation, but for some reason they've all developed collective amnesia and have forgotten about their links with this rotten organisation, with their only difference being that they're utterly clueless. So will he now insist that Scottish Labour hand back the £100,000 that they took from this dodgy and disgraced organisation?

16:04

Pete Wishart MP (Perth and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party)

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Sarah Jones? be declared in line with the rules in the normal way and it's for those individuals to decide what they do with those donations.

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