Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Commons Chamber

Monday 13th April 2026

(began 1 hour, 51 minutes ago)

13:33

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

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The The order. The order. Will The order. Will Stone The order. Will Stone questions The order. Will Stone questions the Secretary of State for housing, Communities and Local Government.

13:34

Anna Dixon MP (Shipley, Labour)

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Anna Dixon thank you, Mr. Speaker, and a Happy Easter to you. Question two.

13:34

Oral questions: Housing, Communities and Local Government

Oh, happy Easter to you, Mr. Speaker. Shipley will benefit from

13:34

Q2. What mechanisms his Department has put in place to ensure that communities are consulted on the use of Pride in Place funding in Shipley constituency. (908605)

the £1.5 million allocated to Bradford through the Pride in Place Impact Fund. The department has asked local authorities to engage with their local MP and a wider range of local stakeholders to shape delivery of the fund and report on that engagement.

13:34

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. million impact fund for Bradford is hugely critical to the communities which have been overlooked for too long. I recently visited Windhill Recreation Ground in my local area, which is set to benefit from Pride which is set to benefit from Pride in Place funding. So does the Secretary of State agree with me that after 14 years of brutal cuts that after 14 years of brutal cuts to northern councils like Bradford, this Labour government is providing our local areas and communities our local areas and communities with the investment they need.

13:35

Anna Dixon MP (Shipley, Labour)

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Well, can I thank my hon. Friend for her question. She is a great advocate for her constituents. When I. Which I saw for myself when I visited her constituency during the general election. She is right, of course. This funding is going to those hundreds of areas that were the most left behind by the previous government, so that they previous government, so that they can take decisions about what to invest in, to put pride back at the heart of the communities they belong to and love.

13:35

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

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Question number two three.

13:35

Q3. What steps his Department is taking to help reduce levels of homelessness among women in Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West constituency. (908606)

Three minutes. funding over the next three years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, including 11 million for Newcastle through homelessness, rough sleeping and domestic abuse. Grant and councils can use this funding flexibly to to meet the needs of women in their area, which is vital given that 40% of homeless households were recently single households were recently single women or women with children.

13:35

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

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Madam Chair. welcome the increased investment in tackling homelessness in Newcastle,

13:36

Dame Chi Onwurah MP (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, Labour)

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which is really transforming lives now. Homeless women are both more vulnerable and less visible. Recently, the Women's Homeless Alliance North East showed just how Alliance North East showed just how serious a problem this is. Through a proactive and concentrated survey, it identified 144 women sleeping rough, far more than councils were aware of at the time. Without aware of at the time. Without accurate data, it's hard to plan effective support, leaving women at greater risk. So could the Minister tell me what the government is doing specifically to ensure women's homelessness is better measured, monitored and dealt with?

13:36

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the hon. Lady for her question. She makes the case for women's homelessness and rough sleeping to be better understood to improve evidence, and we added an indicator on gender as part of the monthly Rough Sleeping survey, which we published in February 2026. But I would encourage all local authorities to listen to the question that she just asked to consider taking part in the women's rough sleeping census, and to understand that domestic abuse is the third biggest reason for homelessness.

So we need to act on this issue.

13:37

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

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Very colourful. >> Question number four. >> Mr. Speaker, with your. >> Permission. >> I'll take questions for 17 and

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I'll take questions for 17 and 22 together, alongside our commitment to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation, the government is generation, the government is determined to drive a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing. To that end, we've begun the implementation of our website for introduced a new modernised Decent Homes standard, updated minimum energy efficiency standards and directed the regulator of social housing to set new standards relating to the competence and conduct of social housing staff.

13:38

Mary Kelly Foy MP (City of Durham, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> In October 2022, a constituent of mine moved into social housing property and immediately faced property and immediately faced issues with extreme cold and damp, and these issues went unresolved for so long that he referred his complaints to the Housing Ombudsman in April 2025. But it took until February of this year for investigations to begin. And like everyone, my constituent simply wants a dignified life in a safe, comfortable home they could be proud to call home.

So can the Minister explain what the government is doing to ensure that housing associations are meeting their requirements under our law, and that they have the resources to do so?

13:38

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

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I'm very sorry to learn, Mr. >> I'm very sorry to learn, Mr. Speaker, the experience of my hon. Friend's constituent. All housing association homes must be free from dangerous, damp and mould. I note that my hon. Friend's case arose that my hon. Friend's case arose before we brought the first phase of our Chris Law into force on the 27th of October last year. Having done so, Mr. speaker, all social landlords are required to repair emergency hazards within 24 hours and fix dangerous damp and mould within fixed timescales.

13:39

Sarah Pochin MP (Runcorn and Helsby, Reform UK)

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Sarah Pochin thank you, Mr. >> Sarah Pochin thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my constituency of Runcorn and Helsby, Riverside Runcorn and Helsby, Riverside Housing Association are flattening 365 homes, demolishing them to rebuild them for new homes. But rebuild them for new homes. But residents have been left with no communication, no support, no number to ring. Residents like John and Barbara Weldon, now in their 80s, who've lived in the same property for over 50 years and are facing the trauma of that move without knowing where they are going.

Will the Minister agree with me that housing associations have a duty of care to residents, and where they fail in that duty of care, they should be held to account?

13:39

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

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I thank the hon. Lady for her question. Social landlords are held to regulatory standards that are to regulatory standards that are overseen by the regulator. I'm sorry to hear about the experience of John, Barbara and others. If she of John, Barbara and others. If she likes to write to me with details about the case, I will happily look into it. Chris Hinchliff thank you, Mr. Speaker. More social housing is essential, but as members across the House will know, increasingly distant housing associations are often far too quick to put up fees and far too slow to tackle damp mould and disrepair.

So what more will the Minister do to ensure that future public funding comes with future public funding comes with clear strings attached to require better standards for our constituents?

13:40

Chris Hinchliff MP (North East Hertfordshire, Labour)

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Minister.

13:40

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

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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Registered providers of social housing, Mr. Speaker, whoever they are, must address non decency wherever it exists and do so in a timely and professional manner. Where there are concerns manner. Where there are concerns that an RP is not delivering against the required regulatory standards, I just mentioned referrals can be made to the regulator, and the regulator has robust enforcement powers that allow it to take effective action when serious failings are identified.

13:40

Mr Will Forster MP (Woking, Liberal Democrat)

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Paul Foster Mr. Speaker, housing is a top issue in my inbox. As an is a top issue in my inbox. As an MP for Woking, including in damp and mould, and one of the key issues I get is following the issues I get is following the Conservatives unlawfully removing over £4 million of money from the housing revenue account. It has resulted in a huge backlog of issues. What steps does this government and this Minister taking to ensure that that doesn't happen again? To add other woes to our social housing stock?

13:41

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. >> Mr. >> Well, we are taking a number of steps to assist local authorities whose HRA are under pressure, including the rent convergence introduction that I know the hon. Gentleman is aware of and all of the other regulatory certainty and stability that allows local authorities, as well as housing associations to plan for the future and invest in their existing stock, as well as building new social and affordable homes.

13:41

Q5. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on levels of community cohesion in Luton South and South Bedfordshire constituency. (908608)

Rachel Hopkins. >> Question number five. >> Mr. speaker, I was delighted to confirm up to £20 million for Central Luton as part of the expanded Pride in Place programme. This funding will give the community the resources and the power they need to drive transformational local change and that will bring people together and restore a sense of pride in the area.

13:42

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. Hawkins.

13:42

Rachel Hopkins MP (Luton South and South Bedfordshire, Labour)

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If I may just take a moment to congratulate Luton Town on winning the EFL Trophy yesterday at Wembley, but I very much welcome the £20 million Pride in Place funding for million Pride in Place funding for central Luton, which will help restore pride in our local neighbourhoods. After being left behind for so many years under the previous conservative government. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that decisions on how to use this investment to regenerate central Luton will be made by the community, for the community and to connect the community?

13:42

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

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Well, I do agree with her that >> Well, I do agree with her that one of the most exciting things about Pride in Place is that it is the community themselves that take the decisions about how the money should be spent, and of course, that's the right thing to do because it's communities themselves that know best what needs to change to put pride back at the heart of their communities.

13:43

Q6. What steps his Department is taking to help prevent family voting in UK elections. (908609)

Gregory Stafford. Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Any form of coercion at the polling booth is unacceptable and undermines confidence in our democratic confidence in our democratic process. The Ballot Secrecy Act 2023 makes this clear. The government will continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission and administrators to ensure polling staff. Station staff are confident in challenging these offences.

13:43

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

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Gregory Stafford thank you.

13:43

Gregory Stafford MP (Farnham and Bordon, Conservative)

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Mr. Speaker. Whilst Greater Manchester Police has stated that there was no evidence of family there was no evidence of family voting in a recent by election, Democracy volunteers reported witnessing concerningly high levels witnessing concerningly high levels of such activity on polling day. So how does the Minister reconcile these conflicting accounts and can they confirm? And can she clarify how Greater Manchester Police conducted that assessment, particularly whether witness statements from the observers were taken into account?

13:43

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

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Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Greater Manchester Police have completed their investigation and found no evidence of family voting. found no evidence of family voting. I'd like to thank the police for their careful and diligent work investigating this matter, as well investigating this matter, as well as the Electoral Commission and the local Returning Officer for the support that they have provided. As I said before, coercion in the polling station and other types of electoral offences are unacceptable and undermine confidence in our democratic system.

13:44

Paul Holmes MP (Hamble Valley, Conservative)

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Shall the Minister. Thank you. >> Shall the Minister. Thank you. >> Very much, Mr. Speaker, and Happy Easter. Family voting is just one example of unfair voting practices that seek to skew elections and exploit those isolated from wider British society. Another example of these divisive tactics was a disgraceful green leaflet in the Gorton and Denton byelection, written in Urdu, saying and I quote, Labour must be punished for Gaza. Give the Muslims a voice vote green. If the Minister agrees that this is divisive language, will she back our amendment to allow only election literature? In the short campaign,

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printed only in an official British language? Mr.

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Mr. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to work through the representation of the people's Bill representation of the people's Bill in committee, line by line, through scrutiny. I look forward to continuing that work with him, and

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we will discuss that then. Thank you. Blake Stephenson question number seven, Mr. Speaker.

13:45

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

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seven, Mr. Speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the 19th of March, we published a full impact assessment for the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill. You'll be aware that we are also currently consulting on precisely how we introduce a ban on precisely how we introduce a ban on the use of leasehold for new flats, including in respect of issues such as scope and transition as scope and transition arrangements and exemptions.

13:45

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

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Blake Stephenson Mr Speaker Wixams Retirement Village in Mid Bedfordshire is a wonderful integrated retirement community, but I understand from the sector and the industry that the business

13:45

Blake Stephenson MP (Mid Bedfordshire, Conservative)

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model is under threat from the government's leasehold reforms. Given the important role these communities can play in reducing social care costs for our local authorities and the fantastic option they represent for older constituents. Will the Minister commit to look again at the specific impacts on leasehold reform on the integrated retirement sector, particularly to give

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stability and predictability to investors so they can invest in future schemes. Minister.

13:46

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

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I thank the hon. Gentleman for his well-judged question. Let me reassure him that the government understand the distinct operational understand the distinct operational and financial models which underpin specialist retirement housing, and we recognise the important role that integrated retirement community operators play in providing high quality housing for older people. As he's fully aware, the question of how the retirement housing sector functions in a world in which commonhold is the default tenure and whether some kind of exemption is required, is one of the many questions we're seeking feedback to through our moving to Commonhold leasehold flat band consultation, and I encourage him and any operators within his constituency to engage with it.

13:47

Rachel Blake MP (Cities of London and Westminster, Labour )

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Rachel Blake thank you, Mr. >> Rachel Blake thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his work on this issue. I am working to make sure that Managing Agent Freshwater will meet with me in order to talk about their service charge levels. Does the Minister agree with me that it's important that managing agents do meet with representatives in order to tackle some of these high levels, and so that they're prepared for some of the reforms that this government's bringing in, but also a real concern that I have about the impact of high service charges on the long term sustainability of the leasehold model for people who are choosing to retire into leasehold properties.

13:47

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

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Well, Minister. >> I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, high and rising service charges are putting unprecedented financial pressure on leaseholders. They are also causing issues more and more. We're seeing this, Mr. Speaker, with mortgages and remortgaging processes. So I absolutely agree with her. And on the point of managing agents. Absolutely, yes. Managing agents

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should meet with residents where they have concerns, either collectively or individually. To each other. Great. Please.

13:48

Q8. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of sales commission charges on park home residents. (908612)

>> Great. Please. >> Mr. Speaker. >> Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government appreciates fully the

13:48

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

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government appreciates fully the long standing concerns among residents about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home on the 5th of March. We published a call for evidence in relation to the said evidence in relation to the said commission payments so that we have the information necessary to act and provide the clarity and certainty that park home. Residents and site owners have rightly been demanding.

13:48

David Chadwick MP (Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, Liberal Democrat)

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David Chadwick. >> Brecon and Radnor, and indeed across the entire country, describe the 10% Sales Commission as a deeply unfair hit on their life savings, often amounting to tens of thousands of pounds. And with the government's call for evidence now under way, what assessment has the Secretary of State made of whether this charge is fair and whether residents are receiving value for money?

13:48

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

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Minister. >> Can I say, Mr. Speaker, I fully understand the hon. Gentleman's desire to secure change in relation to this matter and assure him that I share his eagerness to proceed quickly. Unfortunately, the research undertaken by the previous government was not conclusive as to either the purpose of the commission or the impact of its removal or reduction. The final report recommended further work to clarify the rationale of the Commission so the government can make informed policy choices, hence the call for evidence, which I hope he and park home owners in his constituency are engaging with.

13:49

Lloyd Hatton MP (South Dorset, Labour)

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Lloyd Hatton thank you, Mr. >> Lloyd Hatton thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I welcome the government's new call for evidence. Perhaps unsurprisingly, park home owners across South Dorset continue to be deeply frustrated with the unfair 10% sales commission that slapped on all park homes. The current system feels unfair as it is punishing one group disproportionately compared to others. So with all this in mind, will the Minister look to ensure that park home owners are not forgotten and look to finally end this unfair 10% sales commission charge and ensure that these reforms sit alongside wider reforms to leasehold.

13:49

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

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I thank my hon. Friend for that question, and I again emphasise that I appreciate the frustration amongst park home owners. Unfortunately, we don't have the evidential basis that we need to act. We need to make a decision on the basis of evidence that is gathered through this current call for evidence taking place, and then take into account the impact on parks of all sizes to ensure fairness and transparency. Transparency. But I can reassure my hon. Friend that we will act once we have that information and evidence that we are seeking.

13:50

Q9. What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Council Tax debt collection practices on households in financial difficulty. (908613)

Luke Charters Mr. speaker, Minister.

13:50

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Because of the inconsistent and disproportionate practices observed, the government has consulted on modernising and improving the administration of council tax, including its collection, and will publish our response shortly.

13:50

Mr Luke Charters MP (York Outer, Labour)

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Luke Charters Mr. Speaker, working with the charity Stepchange, we have seen that some councils are too often moving too quickly towards bailiff enforcement action. So would the Minister consider issuing best practice across councils to ensure that vulnerable households are supported, instead of too often being pushed into further financial misery by overly aggressive enforcement action?

13:51

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue on the floor of the House and through him, thank Stepchange for their work. As I mentioned, we'll have more to say in this area shortly. But as he will know, the Ministry of Justice is also involved in the issues that he mentioned. So I'll work with Ministers in that department too.

13:51

Dr Ellie Chowns MP (North Herefordshire, Green Party)

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Don't tell the chart. >> Don't tell the chart. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Council tax is widely acknowledged to be a deeply regressive and unfair tax, deeply regressive and unfair tax, based on property values that are decades out of date, and the poorest households pay a much larger proportion of their income in council tax than the wealthiest. So rather than consulting on just better ways to collect it, will the Minister instead commit to review and replace this outdated and unfair tax with the system of taxation that is fairer and based on property values?

13:52

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. As I've said, we'll have more to say on this shortly. But when it comes to fairness, she'll know that the Chancellor introduced a new charge for those properties that are of the highest value, showing that this Labour government is prepared to act when it comes to fairness.

13:52

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

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David Simmonds Shadow Minister Thank you. Thank you. >> Mr. Speaker. Maximising the rises in council tax underpin this rises in council tax underpin this government's entire approach to council finance. The Minister has admitted. The Minister has admitted that no assessment has been done of the impact that this has on the cost of living for British households. So as the government sends in the bailiffs to support force, it's council tax maximisation strategy. Will she assure the House that the Prime Minister has considered the impact of these huge council tax rises on working households? Yeah, yeah.

13:53

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, I think that is a little bit rich, given what we have all lived through over the past 14 years. I would say to the hon. Gentleman, on average, Tory councils cost you more. And I know that the most the best way that we will make sure that council finances recover from the period of Tory austerity is to improve services. Stop paying the cost of failure and help deal with the cost of living crisis to Neil Coyle.

13:53

Q10. What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on community spaces. (908614)

Question ten Mr. speaker.

13:53

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

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visit to the new Pride in Place area at Enfield, wash. During the Easter recess. Not many places in Easter recess. Not many places in phase one of the programme who have already announced their intention to spend what they are going to spend their money on, have selected community spaces as what they want to spend it on. And no wonder, because community spaces are where because community spaces are where communities can come together, take action together and give their community the voice that they need

13:54

Feryal Clark MP (Enfield North, Labour)

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to articulate their aspirations for the future. >> Oh, Paul. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. speaker, can I thank my right hon. Friend for visiting Enfield, wash. In my constituency last week. Mr. speaker, after 14 years of conservative cuts, Enfield has lost around 60% of its funding, hitting vital services like adult social care, youth services and our high street. Despite the cuts, Enfield Labour Council has worked tirelessly to protect residents and support the most vulnerable. So does my right hon.

Friend agree with me and our brilliant Labour Council leader?

13:54

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

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Order, please. I know, I know, we're into an election period, but we're going to have to shorten the questions to get all the members in. questions to get all the members in. I'm sure the Secretary of State will agree. >> Always agree with you, Mr. Speaker. Fair funding, of course, is going to provide a significant increase for Enfield Council, in line with levels of deprivation. And the additional funding for two Pride in Place areas will give two of the most held back areas additional funding to take control of our own futures.

13:55

Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson MP (Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, Conservative)

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So, government. we've got some amazing community spaces, but some community spaces that would benefit from additional investment and Pride in Place would have been a great way to do that. But sadly, none of the local authorities in the Staffordshire County Council area are eligible to prize in place. And it does feel a little bit like gerrymandering in terms of a result, but I'm sure that is not the case. Would the Secretary of State commit to actually looking at this afresh and see if there's any opportunity for Staffordshire not to be forgotten? County, county by this government?

13:55

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

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Susan Murray Secretary. funding goes where deprivation is highest. After the previous Prime Minister stood up in a leafy garden in Tunbridge Wells and boasted about how the Conservatives were taking money away from deprived areas to use it for what I can only assume was gerrymandering.

13:56

Sonia Kumar MP (Dudley, Labour)

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Kumar Mr Speaker in. >> Dudley. >> The Pride in Place funding is being divided between two constituencies. Risking dilution.

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constituencies. Risking dilution. Of its impact. Given the high levels of deprivation of many of my residents that they face in Dudley. residents that they face in Dudley. What steps will my right hon. Friend take to ensure communities and Dudley fully feel the transformational benefits of this investment, and see tangible improvements locally, and will meet with me to see how we can crowd funding.

13:56

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

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Lowestoft. about Pride in Place is its communities themselves, not politicians who take the decisions about how the money will be spent. They will come together from across the area that is benefiting from the funding, and they will decide what they want to do to put pride back into a community that had pride ripped out of the heart of it by the party opposite John Milne.

13:57

John Milne MP (Horsham, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are real concerns that Pride in Place is just another example of this government's blind spot when this government's blind spot when it comes to rural areas. Groups like the Rural Services Network and Plunkett Foundation warn that villages are being left behind. Key rural assets are disappearing fast, and Plunkett are calling for a targeted 10 million Rural Community ownership fund to help. So what is the government doing to make sure that rural communities don't get left out again? Yeah.

13:57

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

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Well, of course, the funding was distributed according to data distributed according to data provided by the indices of multiple deprivation. So it's going to the areas that are most deprived wherever in the country. They may lie in urban areas or in rural areas. But of course, with the fair funding review, that also ensured that funding was targeting those areas that needed it the most and have been most deprived of it by the previous government, including a measure on rurality to ensure that rural areas get their fair share.

13:58

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

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Rachael Maskell Mr Speaker. Question 11 please Minister. >> Mr Speaker responsibility for developing a registration scheme for short term lets in England lies with the Department for culture, Media and Sport. It is building a Media and Sport. It is building a simple and easy to use registration scheme for short term lets informed by ongoing stakeholder feedback and consultation. The scheme entered user testing in October ahead of its planned launch this year.

13:58

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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Rachael Maskell. >> Rachael Maskell. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The scale of short term holiday lets in Europe continues to heighten our significant housing challenges, significant housing challenges, impacts our public services and the economy, whilst residents having to put up with antisocial behaviour on their doorsteps. So while a registration scheme will be helpful and it would be good to know exactly when it will be introduced, will the Minister also commit to working with MPs who face significant challenges of Airbnbs and rural, coastal and urban communities, and embark on a consultation for licensing in the next parliamentary session?

13:58

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

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I thank my hon. Friend for her >> I thank my hon. Friend for her question, and I understand the acute pressures she faces in her constituency. As a result of an constituency. As a result of an excessive concentration of short term. She and I only recently met to discuss this matter, but I'll happily continue to engage with any hon. Member across the House in relation to it. As she knows, the government appreciates that excessive concentrations of short term lets can impact the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and to buy, and we continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by such concentrations.

13:59

Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP (Beverley and Holderness, Conservative)

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Graham Stuart. >> Coastal communities, hospitality is already under massive pressure thanks to the tax rises, regulatory impacts and other negative impositions by this government. So can I urge Ministers to make sure if we bring in a registration scheme, gather the data and don't move in too heavy handed. For the risk would be that we will damage further damage the hospitality sector, which doesn't need it, until we can establish the data and find out whether further action is required.

13:59

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

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Well, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that DCMS is working closely with digital delivery experts to ensure that the registration services are robust, secure and simple to use, minimising the impact on businesses for precisely the reasons that he gave Jayne Kirkham.

14:00

Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You will be aware that. number of short term lets in the country, after London. We understand that DCMs has responsibility for the scheme, but would the Minister consider discussing with his opposite number in DCMS the possibility of uploading and registering things like fire and safety certificates and checks, rather than just a simple light touch registration scheme in the future. If not during this round.

14:00

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

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Mr. >> Mr. >> Well, as I said, I think, Mr. Speaker, we know that excessive concentrations of short term lets affect urban and rural affect urban and rural constituencies, but coastal communities in particular are feeling the acute pressures that result from them. I'm more than happy to engage, as I do already my counterpart in DCMS, and to raise the specific points that she makes.

14:01

Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)

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Tim Farron Mr. Speaker. >> Will the Minister look at closing the loophole that allows second home owners, people who are well off enough to afford more than well off enough to afford more than one home to dodge paying any council tax whatsoever by putting their property on as a short term let for up to 72 days or 72 days a year. Therefore, pay no council tax because they're a small business. Their pay no business rates either. Thousands of my constituents are working their socks off to pay the council tax to subsidise people like that.

That's wrong, isn't it? And will he also bring in a separate category of planning use to make short term lets more easy to control?

14:01

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

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Minister will the hon. Gentleman is well aware of what we've already is well aware of what we've already done on the furnished lettings exemption. We look at taxation in this regard and keep it under constant review as ever. And we've had a long discussion on this particular issue over many years, Mr. Speaker, but I'm more than happy to continue the conversation with him.

14:01

Q12. What discussions he has had with local authorities on the adequacy of the provision of local youth services. (908616)

Jon Trickett well.

14:01

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In December, DCMS published the National Youth Strategy, our ten year plan to ensure young people can access services and opportunities they need to thrive. And I speak regularly to local leaders about this work. The local government finance settlement makes available £78 billion for English councils this year, most of which is on ring fenced, giving councils flexibility to meet local needs, including for youth services.

14:02

Jon Trickett MP (Normanton and Hemsworth, Labour)

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Jon Trickett. Thank you very much, sir. I thank the Minister for her response, but the truth is that in the austerity years, over £1 billion was taken out of youth services by the previous government. That was shameful and it was damaging to the social fabric. The legacy left behind. The Minister has already indicated we're beginning to tackle, but in the mining communities, with villages remote and no bus services readily available in the evening, young people are being left behind.

Is there more that we can do to help those mining villages? And would she also reflect on the availability of a of a youth centre which has been left closed now since the Tories were in office in Upton? In my constituency, which might well be used as a youth hub.

14:03

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

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And thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the hon. Gentleman for his contribution, which reminds us of the damage that was done, particularly to those least able to bear it. I'm pleased to say that for Wakefield, spending power has increased by just shy of 27% since Labour came to office. So when it comes to the youth centre in Upton, I hope that there's more options available for Wakefield than the once was, but I'm happy to work with him on it.

14:03

Shockat Adam MP (Leicester South, Independent)

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Shockat Adam Mr. Speaker, there >> Shockat Adam Mr. Speaker, there is a direct link between youth services and housing communities. In fact, it's been shown that once In fact, it's been shown that once we invest in our youth services, there's reduced homelessness and fewer young people in temporary accommodation. However, the cut in real terms close to £1 billion, means the whole sector has been decimated. And so will the Minister agree with me that when we lose our youth services in our centres, our whole community suffers? And how is this government going to make youth working a viable career going forward?

14:04

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his contribution. Sadly, we all know only too well the cost that young people had to bear of the years of austerity. Through the homelessness strategy, we have been trying to support young people at an earlier stage and happily discuss that with him. We need to make sure that young people really do get a decent chance in life. spokesperson.

14:04

Zöe Franklin MP (Guildford, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you. time of the previous government, youth funding was reduced by approximately 70%. In particular, it was universal provision that was impacted the most. While we on these benches welcomed the youth strategy, I'm very concerned that local government reorganisation will actually result in continued reduction in youth provision within our communities, and we need to remember that it's actually the voluntary sector that pick up the pieces. So often I see this in my own constituency. They do a brilliant job, but it shouldn't be down to just them on their own.

Can the Minister advise what assessment has been made of the impact of local government reorganisation on youth provision in areas beyond their promised 50 young future hubs?

14:05

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

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Zoe. think we're on different sides of the House at risk of breaking out into violent agreement about the importance of youth services and what the Conservative Party did to

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them previously. I. Mr. Stewart, we don't need any

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extra help. Right. Let us move on. Caroline Voaden question. 13, please, Mr. Speaker.

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13, please, Mr. Speaker. Mid Ulster. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and for that assistance, I have regular conversations with ministerial colleagues across government, and my Department works very closely my Department works very closely with the Department for Work and Pensions. And the interactions between Social Security policy and homelessness.

14:05

Caroline Voaden MP (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)

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Caroline Voaden thank you, Mr. Speaker. Years of freezes to local Speaker. Years of freezes to local housing allowance by successive governments has meant that it goes nowhere near covering the cost of social housing, let alone renting privately in my constituency. The average rent for a three bedroom home can be well over £100, but a family of four will only receive £840 a month. Poor and temporary housing is a key driver of child poverty, so it's really important we resolve this. So will the Minister commit to working with the Department for Work and Pensions to unfreeze local housing allowance so that we can lift children out of poverty?

14:06

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the hon. Lady for her important question. And in my previous role and in my current previous role and in my current role, I've worked very closely across Mhclg and DWP to, as I said before, to see the interactions between poverty and homelessness. We spend £34 billion annually on housing support through Social Security, including £12 billion on the private rented sector as part of the child poverty strategy.

We have lifted the two child limit, which will help families stay in homes, particularly larger families. We're helping parents with childcare costs. We have brought in the fair repayment rate so that people don't need to get into unnecessary debt, and we've increased the standard allowance of Universal Credit above inflation for the first time. As far as anyone can remember, those are big steps to help family income and we should all be proud.

14:07

Neil Duncan-Jordan MP (Poole, Labour)

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Of Jordan. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The gap between average rents and wages in Poole is among the widest in the Poole is among the widest in the country. Freezing the local housing allowance has clearly made that position worse. So can the Minister outline when this freeze will end and when we will see the allowance increase to reflect the actual housing costs that people face?

14:07

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

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And thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We obviously keep the local housing allowance under review along with DWP. I would just say to him, if you want to prevent homelessness, you need to build homes and make sure that people can afford them. That's why the Chancellor's investment of £39 billion to build the social housing we need is a crucial part of making sure that families can get housed properly in this country and future.

14:08

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

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Wendy Morton question number 14, please. please. >> Mr. >> Mr. speaker, the government is committed to preserving green belts which have served England's towns which have served England's towns and cities well over many decades. We have not changed the five purposes of the Green Belt, set out in paragraph 143 of the National Planning Policy Framework, and that framework still contains strong protections for Green Belt, making clear that inappropriate development in IT should not be approved unless justified by very special circumstances.

14:08

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

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Furthermore. >> Furthermore. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The benches opposite approach to Green Belt is the clearest example yet of them saying one thing and doing another. The Secretary of State campaigns against building on green spaces in his own constituency, but is more than happy to see green space in my constituency concreted over by developers. So I'd like to ask the Minister if he can tell me why constituents green space in my area is apparently less important than the green space in the Secretary of State's.

14:09

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

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Register as the right hon. Lady well understands we've had this well understands we've had this exchange many times. It is for individual local planning authorities to determine if Green Belt should be released and if that exceptional circumstances test has been met. But I have to say, Mr. Speaker, all the clever questions she comes up with, and I admire her ingenuity for doing so. Disguise her true position, which is she doesn't want any houses built on any green belt land in any part of her constituency or anywhere near, even if that means preventing families from buying or even longer registers.

14:09

Gareth Bacon MP (Orpington, Conservative)

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So the Minister Gareth Bacon. confident that the government's invention of the term grey belt is providing protection to the green belt?

14:10

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

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Oh, well, it depends where you are. >> I am confident, I am confident, Mr. Speaker. But is it now, perhaps the hon. Gentleman could confirm to the hon. Gentleman could confirm to me the policy of Her Majesty's opposition that if all reasonable options, Mr. Speaker, for meeting identified housing need have been exhausted, including grey belt land, that no green belt land can ever be released, even under those very special circumstances. If that is the position, the opposition are consciously and deliberately consigning people in this country to longer misery as a result of the acute housing crisis that got worse on their watch and is still causing misery.

And we are undoing.

14:10

Gareth Bacon MP (Orpington, Conservative)

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Peckham places if you want. petrol stations and disused car parks. But by December 2020, five of the 13 developments of ten more homes have been approved by government planning inspectors on so-called green belt land, 88% were due to be built on what had previously been undeveloped countryside. Mr. speaker, the evidence is unequivocal. The fact is that the Green Belt is under attack from this government. Why won't the Minister just admit that the term grey belt is, in fact a dishonest concoction designed to mislead the general public?

14:11

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

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Yeah. >> It's anything but a dishonest concoction. Mr. speaker, Green Belt, as I've said, is determined by local planning authorities where local planning authorities where they meet the purposes of the Green Belt as set out. But what is the hon. Gentleman saying? I come back to, Mr. Speaker. Is he saying that our strategic and targeted approach to the Green Belt should be replaced by the chaotic and haphazard approach that the previous government took, in which we saw swathes of green belt released across the country, often in the wrong areas.

Green Belt is ensuring that the right kind of low quality and green belt land is released, where all other options have been exhausted and where housing need needs to be met. Through that avenue.

14:11

Q15. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on levels of community cohesion in Hyndburn constituency. (908620)

Sarah Smith and 15, please, Mr. Speaker. supports community cohesion by backing locally led change determined by local people who live in the area, who come together, whatever their background, to determine their own priorities, to determine their own priorities, to putting pride back at the heart of their community.

14:12

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've also established to get Hyndburn

14:12

Sarah Smith MP (Hyndburn, Labour)

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working Group, which is bringing together local organisations, schools, the DWP voluntary sector schools, the DWP voluntary sector organisations and the college, and on our training providers to tackle economic inactivity and look at the economic inactivity and look at the high levels of young people that we have who are out of work, training and education. Does the Minister agree with me that Pride in Place funding could play a key role in supporting these place based collective approaches to tackling

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collective approaches to tackling issues like these yesterday? Well, first of all, can I congratulate her on bringing that working group together? I think that is an excellent way to use her role as a member of Parliament to support her community, to have a support her community, to have a bigger say, and to enable them to share their ideas, their creativity share their ideas, their creativity about how they tackle local priorities in the circumstances. She's talking about the important matter of getting people into work matter of getting people into work and guaranteeing them a better future.

14:13

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

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Luke Akehurst number.

14:13

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

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Ernestor Mr. Speaker, the government recognises that a far smaller proportion of social rented homes are as furnished or partly furnished compared with the private rented sector. In our response to last year's consultation on a new Decent Homes standard, we made clear that we're exploring what more can be done to support tenants who are most in need to access floor coverings and other essential furniture. Tenants currently living without essential furniture can, of course, look to local authorities for support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

14:13

Luke Akehurst MP (North Durham, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Carbon homes, which is the dominant social landlord within North Durham North Durham, provides North Durham North Durham, provides furnished tenancies to ensure that vulnerable low income tenants can access essential furniture and white goods. What steps will his department undertake to ensure that other social landlords across the UK adopt this approach to greatly improve the quality of life for the least well-off people?

14:13

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

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Mr. >> Mr. >> I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I commend Carbon Homes, Mr. Speaker, for their commitment to furnished tenancies. While such tenancies are not mandatory, we know that many social landlords want to know more about the opportunities that furnished tenancy schemes can provide, as well as the funding and budgeting implications and operational requirements. We intend to publish comprehensive best practice guidance alongside our updated Decent Homes standard, and will engage with providers and other stakeholders in its development.

14:14

Manuela Perteghella MP (Stratford-on-Avon, Liberal Democrat)

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Another place thank you, Mr. >> Another place thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my constituency of Stratford-on-Avon, I had families moving into social housing with no moving into social housing with no beds for the children to sleep in, no table to eat, family meals and no white goods to cook healthy meals. So will the Minister recognise the importance of ensuring the tenants moving into social housing, have access to basic furniture? And will you commit to working social housing providers to make sure no one is left without?

14:14

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

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Hey Minister. >> Hey Minister. >> I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I do recognise the importance of ensuring that tenants importance of ensuring that tenants can access essential furniture where required. As I said, furnished tenancies are not mandatory in making the decision on the Decent Homes standard, we had to balance the costs involved with ensuring that that's a requirement across all providers. But we are, as I say, not least through the best practice guidance that I just made clear that we intend to bring forward, seeking to encourage the really good practice that's out there and that so that more social landlords can take advantage of the

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opportunities that furnished tenancy schemes provide. Alex Ballinger. Thank you. Mr. Speaker.

14:15

Q18. What steps his Department is taking to reform the leasehold sector. (908624)

>> Mr. Speaker. >> Ernestor thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government continues to steadily implement those reforms to

14:15

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

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steadily implement those reforms to the leasehold system that are already in statute and to progress the wider set of reforms necessary the wider set of reforms necessary to end the leasehold system for good in this Parliament, not least through the provisions in our draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill that was published on the 27th of January. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituent Yvonne has lived in

14:15

Alex Ballinger MP (Halesowen, Labour)

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a house that she owned in Halesowen for 20 years, and she purchased it under a leasehold arrangement that allowed her property management allowed her property management company, Principle Estate Management, to quadruple her Management, to quadruple her service charge from £400 to £1550 without conducting any maintenance. Clearly Yvonne feels like she's being ripped off and her other being ripped off and her other members of the housing estate that they live on are now having difficulty selling their homes. So can the Minister outline what can the Minister outline what action is being taken to tackle property management firms like Principle Estate Management, so people like Yvonne aren't continually being ripped off? I thank my hon.

Friend for that

14:16

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

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important question. I'm determined, Mr. Speaker, to switch on the improved leaseholder consumer rights provided for by the 2024 act, rights provided for by the 2024 act, including service charge, standardisation and transparency measures at the earliest possible opportunity so that people like Yvonne and many hundreds of thousands more across the country who I know as I do in my own who I know as I do in my own constituency, are dealing with exorbitant service charge increases to get the protection they need when it comes to managing agents, when it comes to managing agents, as my hon.

Friend knows, we're committed to strengthening regulation, but I'll happily write to him to provide him with the full position and details of what measures we are considering to take forward.

14:17

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Mr. speaker, thank you very much >> Mr. speaker, thank you very much for this answer and to the hon. Gentleman, Halesowen, for bringing forward some of the issues that he refers to. We have similar problems refers to. We have similar problems in my constituency, and I know the Minister is very keen to ensure that all parts of the United Kingdom can take advantage of the legislative change that the government has proposed here. So can I ask the Minister this question? Can he discuss with the relevant Minister and ensure that the proposals put forward by government here to address the issues of the hon.

Gentleman can be done for my constituents in Northern Ireland as well. Thank you.

14:17

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

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I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. As he knows, we engage regularly with counterparts from Northern Ireland. I'm more than happy in the case of leasehold reform, which covers just England and Wales, to provide him with the insights of the proposals we've been working on and what more we're considering to take forward in future months and years.

14:17

Q19. What the evidential basis is for his Department's policy on rent control. (908625)

Dan Carden number 19. Mr. Speaker,

14:17

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

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Minister. introduction of rent controls, which we believe could make life more difficult for renters. There is sufficient international evidence from countries such as Sweden and Germany, and from individual cities such as San Francisco, and as well as the recent Scottish experience to attest to the potential detrimental impacts of rent controls on tenants.

14:18

Dan Carden MP (Liverpool Walton, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is an injection of housing investment.

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In some parts of my constituency, but sadly it is by landlords who but sadly it is by landlords who are taking advantage of low house prices to turn family homes, whole prices to turn family homes, whole terraces into HMOs, charging sky high rents for people to live in single bedrooms, undermining the single bedrooms, undermining the local community. Could I ask the Minister, because he's told me a few times that the government is opposed to rent controls, to really look again at the evidence and start to consult, because it's clear we need to see rents come down in this country, especially in the most deprived areas.

14:18

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

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Minister. >> Minister. >> I can assure my hon. Friend that I've looked at a wealth of evidence, particularly international evidence of what the impact of first and of what the impact of first and second generation rent controls are, or even subtler forms of rent control, which can have differential impacts on different groups, typically benefitting, benefitting, settled and better off tenants more than those looking for a home or needing to move. So while I appreciate there's a broad spectrum of regulation that falls under the title Mr Speaker, there's enough international evidence in the government's for you to attest to the potential detrimental impacts of rent control, and it remains the government's position that we will not introduce them.

14:19

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

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Tottenham. >> Number one. Mr Speaker. >> Sir. >> Mr. speaker, the Renters Rights Act meets Labour's manifesto Act meets Labour's manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting in England. We will introduce our reforms in three phases. In the first phase begins on the 1st of May this year. On this date, section 21 no fault evictions will be abolished. Rent increases will be limited to just once a year. We will end rental bidding wars and limit requests for rent in advance to a maximum of one month, and it will be illegal to discriminate against prospective renters who have children or who receive benefits.

These are the biggest reforms in the rental sector in a generation. And while the Tories and Reform voted against them and the Greens want to abolish renting, this Labour government stands firmly on the side of renters.

14:20

Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)

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Sarah Mr Speaker. >> In Somerset. >> Has plummeted, demand has surged and rents have gone up six times as much as income. These challenges much as income. These challenges are highlighted in rural market towns like Glastonbury, where hundreds of people live in vans and caravans lining the Curbsides. Many are there because they can't afford to rent a bricks and mortar home. So what steps is the Minister taking to ensure everyone has a decent and safe place where they can afford to live? Yes.

14:20

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

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Of course, ensuring that there is a decent and safe place for is a decent and safe place for people to live all across the country is a primary objective of this government. She will be aware that the Social and Affordable Homes programme opened to bids in February. It closes in the first phase later on in April. That provides up to £39 billion for the biggest increase in social and affordable, including council housing right across this country. That will make a massive difference to people in rural areas, as well as other parts of the country.

you.

14:21

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP (Suffolk Coastal, Labour)

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Mr. Speaker. >> Mr. Speaker. >> One of the biggest. Housing challenges we. >> Have in many of my. Villages as Suffolk Coastal and market towns Suffolk Coastal and market towns like Orford, Aldeburgh and even larger towns like Felixstowe, is social housing providers selling off housing stock and not replacing it locally. Looking at how we tackle this issue is critical and expanding the rural exemption exemption sites must be part of that solution. As set out in the recent report. Will the Minister set out what steps he is taking to expand rural exemption sites to deliver affordable housing?

14:21

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

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Minister. >> I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Our recent consultation on a revised NPF included proposals to strengthen support for rural to strengthen support for rural exemption sites and to make it easier for authorities to require affordable housing on smaller sites in rural areas. She will also be aware that designated rural areas are already exempt from the right to buy, but I'd be more than happy to meet with her and the rest of the members of the research group to discuss protecting existing stock and other matters covered in the recent report, she referenced Sir James Cleverly.

14:22

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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Shadow Secretary of State. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I was in Bromsgrove, a rural. Constituency facing.

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An 85% increase in its housing target, whilst neighbouring Labour target, whilst neighbouring Labour run Birmingham, with significant brownfield capacity, has seen its target cut by more than 30%, a target increasing by 37% in Essex target increasing by 37% in Essex but decreasing by 11% in London. House building has collapsed under this Labour government. So why is this Labour government. So why is he letting his Labour run urban friends off the hook whilst dumping Britain?

14:22

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

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Yeah. conservative government that abolished housing targets everywhere and led to the housing crisis that we're facing, where the number of people sleeping rough on the streets and in shop doorways doubled. They're smiling while I'm explaining what they did. They're smiling. The number of people sleeping on the streets doubled, and the number of families in temporary accommodation that doubled as well. And they did nothing when the housing market collapsed in 2223 because of Liz Truss's Budget, which the opposition shadow Secretary of State supported.

14:23

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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Sir James, he can't answer. He doesn't have an answer. Mr. speaker, perhaps he could answer this because he failed to do so in response to a written question, he has once again refused to publish either the prospectus or the selection criteria for his election pilots. And this is part of a wider pattern cancelling elections. They don't think they're going to win. Changing local government boundaries. Instead of giving that task to the Independent Boundary Commission. Changing voter ID without consultation.

When I saw this kind of behaviour overseas, I called it out for what it was dirty, self-interested, partisan politics. So will he scrap this Orban style properly?

14:24

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

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Well, I mean, as he's aware, elections are going ahead all over the country right now. I suspect he, like me, has been campaigning and knocking on doors to talk to people about how they're going to vote. We'll find out in a few weeks what their judgements on all of us will be.

14:24

Lauren Edwards MP (Rochester and Strood, Labour)

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Lauren Edwards speaker, I welcome action the government is welcome action the government is taking to improve reporting and transparency of political donations from unincorporated associations in the Representation of the People Bill, 97% of donations from these bodies since 2010 came from unknown sources under existing rules. But will Ministers consider going further and require information to be published on who runs unincorporated associations that make political donations, and what their purpose is to ensure that we have maximum transparency.

14:25

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through the Representation of the People Bill, we're significantly lowering the threshold for when unincorporated associations register with the Electoral Commission and will be requiring them to publicly identify a responsible person who is legally accountable for compliance with electoral law. spokesperson.

14:25

Zöe Franklin MP (Guildford, Liberal Democrat)

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Speaker, Just before Easter, a development of 500 plus homes in my constituency predicated on building a brand new Howard of Effingham School, was withdrawn after a decade of commitment to the plan. The developer is expected to proceed with a new application without a school. The community and school are understandably angry and upset. What powers does the Minister have to ensure developers can be held to such long term commitments? And will he meet with me to discuss the issue and its implications in my constituency and more widely?

14:25

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

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Mr. >> Mr. >> Mr. speaker, the hon. Lady will, I know, appreciate that we can't comment as Ministers on individual planning applications or individual local plans, but I'm more than happy to meet with her and discuss the general issues arising from the case she mentions.

14:26

Jonathan Davies MP (Mid Derbyshire, Labour)

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Thank you very much. Mr. speaker, I previously raised the case of the Bellfield Care Centre in Belper with my hon. Friend, the Minister of State from Birkenhead at the moment that has an uncertain future. Reform. Derbyshire County Council may sell the home. Can I ask her to take an interest in this case, to make sure that we've got adequate adult social care provision in Derbyshire? Perhaps she might raise that with the council's leadership.

14:26

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

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And thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my friend for raising it. It's important for local authorities to work very closely with NHS colleagues, as I'm doing in government, to make sure that we've got sufficient adult social care, because otherwise we won't be able to get people out of hospital and into good homes. So I would ask them to pay attention to that and I'll happily work with him on it.

14:26

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Smart. >> Thank you very. >> Much, Mr. Speaker. >> Stockport is the Council of the

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Stockport is the Council of the year. It spends three in every £4 on adults and children's. And it includes the most deprived part of Greater Manchester. Yet the Greater Manchester. Yet the government's funding settlement leaves the borough receiving £52 million less than the average each year, compared to equivalent. Authorities made significantly worse this year. What advice would the Minister give to my constituents when they see the council having to make cuts to vital local services?

14:27

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the hon. Lady for raising this point. We want to see all council's progress towards financial sustainability, and what I would say to her constituents is that the decisions taken under the past 14 years have left councils paying for failure. We get that right. We'll be able to spend on the things that people really prioritise locally.

14:27

Lewis Atkinson MP (Sunderland Central, Labour)

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Lewis Atkinson thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister outline how the new national homelessness strategy will provide additional funds to Sunderland City Council to tackle rough sleeping and support the vital work that organisations like Oasis, the Salvation Army and Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen do in our city.

14:28

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

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Hey Minister. >> Hey Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to thank my friend for raising this issue and through him, if I this issue and through him, if I may, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the organisations that he mentions. Our homelessness plan provides millions of pounds for Sunderland to do that work to help prevent people becoming homeless. And as with all members, I'll work with him on that.

14:28

Peter Fortune MP (Bromley and Biggin Hill, Conservative)

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Peter Fortune thank. government's connectivity tool classifies land proposed for development at Biggin Hill and Hayes Farm as equally well connected as the Greenwich Peninsula. This is utterly nonsensical. Does the Minister recognise that the government's housing targets for the London borough of Bromley are both unfair and unachievable?

14:28

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

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I do find it quite galling, Mr. Speaker, that we've got the shadow Secretary of State saying that we've lowered London's housing targets too far and the hon. Gentleman saying they're too high, they're just in the right place from my point of view.

14:28

Florence Eshalomi MP (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Labour )

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Florence Eshalomi chair of the Select Committee. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Secretary of State for outlining the new reforms that will come through with the Renters Rights Act 18 days, and residents Rights Act 18 days, and residents will see no fault evictions banned. The Minister also knows that with that, we need local authorities to have the resources, and the Minister outlined that there will be additional resources for local authorities, including the launch of the PRS database and the launch of the PRS Housing Ombudsman.

Can the Minister give us an update on when that will be live?

14:29

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

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My friend, for that question, she won't have to wait long at all to find out details of the new burdens funding that's coming through for local authorities. And as she knows, in terms of implementation of the wider bill, both the database and the Ombudsman and other things are coming through in further waves than the wave that commences on the 1st of May.

14:29

Rebecca Paul MP (Reigate, Conservative)

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Rebecca Paul thank. >> You, Mr. Speaker. Rural areas are facing a wave of unauthorised developments on land owned by travellers, with little or no action being taken against them. My right hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey and 30 of my colleagues have been pressing for national support to give new powers to the police and local authorities to deal with this. Will the Minister meet with us to discuss this issue, which is causing havoc in our precious British countryside?

14:30

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

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Mr Speaker local planning authorities have a range of planning enforcement powers to tackle unauthorised development, with strong penalties for non-compliance. In our recent consultation on a revised National Planning Policy framework, we included proposals to strengthen national policy in respect of unauthorised development by more than happy to meet her and other hon. Members about the issue. Chris Webb thank you, Mr. Speaker.

14:30

Chris Webb MP (Blackpool South, Labour)

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My constituency.

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Blackpool South pay more. In council tax for their housing than mansions in Mayfair. This is than mansions in Mayfair. This is because under the Conservatives, Blackpool Council had to put their council tax up to the max just to council tax up to the max just to get by. But can the Secretary of State outline to my constituents how we can lower council tax for

14:30

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

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how we can lower council tax for people in Blackpool South? >> Thank. Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

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Thank. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to thank my friend for Blackpool for that question. I already mentioned the increased charge the Chancellor introduced, because this Labour Party believes in fairness when it comes to council tax, and I'll work with councils right across the country to get their costs down so that people are not left paying sky high bills in future.

14:31

Monica Harding MP (Esher and Walton, Liberal Democrat)

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Monica Harding thank.

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The presumption in favour of development in transport nodes, and also the so-called grey belt, means that in my constituency of Esher that in my constituency of Esher and Walton, which is half Green Belt, disproportionately high number of stations with everybody number of stations with everybody lives within 15 minutes of a station. Station means that you could develop everywhere under the

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could develop everywhere under the government proposal. So what should I say to my constituents who are facing concrete everywhere? Amen. Alister.

14:31

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

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>> Alister. >> You should say to them that they live nearby, highly sustainable areas for development, and we want to see more homes come forward in those areas.

14:31

Sarah Coombes MP (West Bromwich, Labour)

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Sarah Coombes thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, the Sikh community in Sandwell was rocked by a second appalling attack at Guru Nanak Gurdwara. For the second time, the gurdwara faced a racist attack where someone dropped a bag of meat on the doorstep. Given the meat is strictly banned inside the gurdwara, this was deeply offensive. Given it's a repeat attack, will the Minister meet with me to talk about what we can do to stop this kind of anti-Sikh hate and make the gurdwara safe?

14:32

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

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Hey. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to thank my hon. Friend for telling the House about this appalling incident, which we will all agree is absolutely terrible. Racial and religious hate is completely unacceptable, and I'm sure her constituents will be glad to know that the Prime Minister is here to hear what's happened to them. The government supports organisations, and I'll make sure that the Minister for Community Cohesion meets the.

14:32

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

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To get through the Sir Julian Lewis. dominated Southampton City Council. Two thirds of my constituents are to be torn away from the New Forest and placed under the control of an urban dominated unitary authority. Does the Minister accept that my constituents are overwhelmingly

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against what the government is trying to do? Yes. Mr. Speaker, I thank the right

14:33

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

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>> Mr. Speaker, I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising this point on behalf of his constituents. We take everybody's views into account. I know this will be

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account. I know this will be difficult, but we will be working with all colleagues as we make this process work. Catherine Atkinson thank you,

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Mr. Speaker. The week before. Easter, Darby suffered a terrible. Incident when a car was

14:33

Catherine Atkinson MP (Derby North, Labour)

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terrible. Incident when a car was driven into crowds of people on Friday and several people were seriously injured. Will the Minister join me in thanking the emergency services for their response and members of the public who delivered first aid? And will the Minister meet with me to discuss how we strengthen local preparedness and design out risks, not just in Derby, but across the country to help keep people safe in future?

14:33

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

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Minister. >> Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm so sorry to hear about this terrible incident. I will, of course, meet incident. I will, of course, meet with my hon. Friends. The Local Resilience Forum in Derbyshire, Derbyshire has worked really hard to respond to this event and I will work with her across and across the country for resilience and recovery.

14:34

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you.

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Mr. County Council has a vendetta against local businesses, most recently placing an enormous most recently placing an enormous storage crate outside the Dickens t cottage, which is going to affect local businesses. Will the Minister urge them to remove that so that we can make sure we protect custom at that local business?

14:34

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

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that local business? >> Mr. speaker, I would advise all councils not to have a vendetta against local businesses.

14:34

Mr Jonathan Brash MP (Hartlepool, Labour)

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>> Final question. >> Jonathan Brash thank you, Mr. Speaker. In just one week prior to Easter, Hillingdon Council discharged their homelessness duty by issuing 22 section 208 notices by placing 77 individuals, including 35 children, into Hartlepool, with many of them concentrated in just one postcode. Does the Minister accept this? Unfair practice places a far too great a burden on towns like mine? Yeah.

14:35

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

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my friend for bringing this issue to the House. He knows how important this is. Hillingdon Council will have heard what he has to say. And, Mr. Speaker, I won't try your patience with rehearsing all that we're doing on this, but it's not acceptable.

14:35

Ministerial statemen: Middle East

Not my picture. It's the house. Right. We'll let the frontbench Right. We'll let the frontbench Right. We'll let the frontbench change over. To the Prime Minister.

14:35

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With permission, I'd like to update the House on my visit to the Gulf. The evolving situation in the Middle East and the implications for Britain's security. But before I do that, I want to put on record in this House my total determination to make the changes across the entire state that are so clearly necessary to honour the victims, the injured and the families of Southport. Today's report, Mr. Speaker, is harrowing. It is difficult to read, and I cannot begin to imagine the pain upon pain that it will cause, the families that it affects, and our thoughts are with them today.

And the Home Secretary will respond to the report in full. Mr. speaker, after this statement, Mr. Speaker, last week I visited the Gulf and I was able to thank in person some of the brave men and women who, from day one of the Us-iran conflict, have resolutely defended the interests of this country, its people and its partners. I thank them again, Mr. Speaker, in this House for their courage and their service, and I am sure the whole House will join me in those.

Thanks. Mr. speaker, whilst in the Gulf, I met leaders and senior military representatives across the region, including the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the president of the UAE, the King and Crown Prince of Bahrain, the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar. And in recent days, I've also spoken to the Sultan of Oman and the Emir of Kuwait. Across all of these conversations, I agreed to deepen our engagement on both defence and economic resilience, because, Mr. Speaker, they all made it abundantly clear that the solidarity and strength of our partnership with them has been a comfort in these challenging times, and we should not forget that the nature of Iran's response, the indiscriminate attack upon countries who never sought this conflict, the huge damage done across the Gulf to civilian infrastructure with civilian casualties is abhorrent.

It has clearly shocked the region and all of us, and we must bear that in mind now as we lift our sights to the future. Because whilst the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran is undeniably welcome, it is also highly fragile. The region remains on edge and a lot of work is required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to de-escalate the situation, leading to a sustainable ceasefire. In pursuit of that goal. We call for Lebanon to be included urgently in the ceasefire.

Diplomacy is the right path and I welcome the talks taking place this week. Hezbollah must disarm, but I am equally clear Israel's strikes are wrong. They are having devastating humanitarian consequences and pushing Lebanon into a crisis. The bombing should stop now. Mr. speaker, we also put on record our thanks to Pakistan and other partners for playing such an important role in diplomatic efforts. We hope the process will continue without further escalation, and that applies to the running sore that is the Strait of Hormuz.

Shamefully exploited by Iran. All of the leaders that I met were crystal clear that freedom of navigation is vital and must be restored. No conditions, no tolls and no tolerance of Iran holding the world's economy to ransom. Because, Mr. Speaker, the impact of Iran's behaviour in the strait is causing untold economic damage. It's visible on every petrol forecourt in the country. My guide from the start of this conflict has always been our national interest. That's why we stayed out of the war and why we continue to stay out of the war, and that is why we are working now to restore freedom of navigation in the Middle East, because that is squarely in our national interests.

Mr. speaker, quite clearly, this is not a straightforward task. It will take time. I met UK businesses in energy, shipping, insurance and finance, and they are clear that vessels will not be put through the strait until they are confident that it's safe to do so. And that's why we're working around the clock on a credible plan to reopen the strait. And, Mr. Speaker, I can confirm today that together with President Macron, I will convene a summit of leaders this week to drive forward the international effort we have built in recent weeks, bringing together dozens of countries to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The summit will be focussed on two things. First, diplomatic efforts to bring pressure to bear for a negotiated end to the conflict and for the strait to be opened. Second, military planning to provide assurance to shipping as soon as a stable environment can be established. And let me be very clear, this is about safeguarding shipping and supporting freedom of navigation. Once the conflict ends, our shared aim here is a coordinated, independent multinational plan. This is the moment, Mr.

Speaker, for clear and calm leadership. And notwithstanding the difficulties, Britain stands ready to play our part. Mr. speaker, let me now return to the impact of this conflict on our economy. We all know that the consequences will be significant, and they will last longer than the conflict itself. Now we continue to monitor the effects, and I remind the House that energy bills went down on the 1st of April. And whatever happens in the Middle East, those bills will stay down until July.

We're investing over £50 million to support heating oil customers, and fuel duty is frozen until September, all because of the decisions that this government took at the Budget. But, Mr. Speaker, there's a wider point, because we can't stand here in this House and pretend that a global shock threatening to hit the living standards of British people is somehow a novel experience. Britain has been buffeted by crises for decades now, from the 2008 financial crash through austerity, Brexit, Covid, the war that still rages in Ukraine and the disastrous premiership of Liz Truss.

The response each time, the response each time has been to try to return to the status quo. A status quo, Mr. Speaker, that manifestly failed working people who saw their living standards flatline and their public services decimated. So this time, Britain's response must and will be different to reflect the changing world that we live in. That starts with our economic security, where during this conflict alone, we've capped energy bills, raised the living wage, strengthened workers rights and ended the two child limit that will lift nearly half a million children out of poverty.

But, Mr. Speaker, looking forward, it also means a closer economic relationship with our European allies because Brexit did deep damage to the economy and the opportunities we now have to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore. Yeah, it continues, Mr. Speaker, with our energy security, where I say, once again, oil and gas will be part of our energy mix for decades to come. But, Mr. Speaker, we do not set the global price for oil and gas, and households across the country are fed up with international events beyond their control, pushing up their energy bills, and I stand with them on that.

So we will go further and faster on our mission to make Britain energy independent, because that is the only way we get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and take control of our energy bills. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must strengthen our defence security. That means boosting our armed forces, as we have with the biggest sustained investment since the Cold War. It means doubling down on the most successful military alliance the world has ever seen. The NATO alliance of which this party in government was a founding member.

But it also means strengthening the European element of that alliance, taking control of our continent's defence more robustly, deepening our partnerships. Have we done with our deals to build Norwegian frigates on the Clyde, Turkish typhoons in Lancashire? Not only, Mr. Speaker, creating thousands of secure jobs and opportunities for our defence industry right across the country, but also enhancing the way our armed forces can collaborate with our allies. Because, Mr. Speaker, as the Middle East conflict shows once more, the world in which we live has utterly changed.

It is more volatile and insecure than at any period in my lifetime, and we must rise to meet it calmly, but with strength. That is exactly what we're doing at home and abroad. We are strengthening our security, taking control of our future, and building a Britain that is fair for all. And I commend this statement to the House.

14:46

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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Kemi Badenoch Leader of the Opposition. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the Prime Minister for thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement? I would also like to pay tribute to our brave servicemen and women serving in the Middle East right now. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is right that Britain did not start this war. But whether we like it or not, we are impacted by it and this is likely to get worse. The cost of borrowing has jumped.

Petrol prices are climbing, inflation is rising and living standards are falling. It is time to take decisive action in our national interest. Britain must focus on what is in our power to protect British citizens today. First, we must rapidly solve the energy crisis this war has caused in our country. And second, we must make sure that Britain is ready to defend herself in this new age. A nuclear armed Iran is an existential threat to the UK. We should be in no doubt whose side we are on in this war.

Our allies in the Middle East and the United States. So I welcome the Prime Minister meeting some of those allies. And I also welcome his support for diplomatic efforts and military planning to restore freedom of navigation in the region. But we will need to go further than just talking, he says Britain stands ready to play our part. We can all see that we were not ready for this situation. Here's what we need to do now. First, we must take rapid action to increase our energy security and keep bills down, not just until July, but longer than that permanently.

Britain is particularly vulnerable to energy price shocks because we are killing domestic oil and gas production in the North Sea. Labour's policy of more expensive energy and deindustrialisation at this time of crisis is dangerous and irresponsible. It is also harming the defence industry. We must start drilling our own oil and gas in the North Sea. Grant licences for drilling in the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields, and restore British production before it is too late. The Prime Minister says this won't impact international prices.

This is more than international prices. This is about the domestic supply, especially of gas, all of which is used in this country. Supply matters. And finally, the government must cancel the proposed rise in fuel duty hiking taxes on motorists for the first time in 15 years, while prices are surging, is a disgraceful decision. If Britain needs to be a stronger country, it needs a stronger economy, not one being hammered by the highest energy prices in the developed world.

So will the Prime Minister grant the oil and gas licences and scrap the rise in fuel duty? I know he will say that it's the Energy Secretary's job. The Energy Secretary is not the Prime Minister. He is. He can instruct him to grant those licences. But Mr Speaker. Secondly, to be ready, Britain must be able to defend herself and that means we must be ready for these situations before they happen. France and Greece. They are. I don't know why they're laughing.

I'm surprised they're laughing because last time I checked, France and Greece sent ships to protect our bases in Cyprus while our destroyer was stuck in Portsmouth. It was a national embarrassment on their shoulders and it should never happen again. We need no further evidence that we are living in a more dangerous world than a decade ago. I'm sure Labour MPs will try and think of a way to make this my fault. Let me remind them I know and it's it is preposterous, but let me remind them the historical illiteracy that is on those benches.

Governments of all colours, including those guys there, spent the peace dividend from 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell until the Ukraine war. And when that war came, the conservative government responded rapidly and unequivocally. We didn't have anything stuck in Portsmouth when Ukraine was invaded. We trained tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and equipped them with our missiles. We increased defence spending every year since the war started, but the world has since become even more dangerous. Every serious person Mr Speaker every serious person, especially in the military, agrees that Britain must now find a way to spend 3% of GDP on defence by the end of this Parliament.

After the election, many of the plans for spending were paused for Labour's strategic defence review. Nine months after publishing it, there is still no defence investment plan that explains how we will fund this. The Defence Readiness Bill is also nowhere to be seen. The question is not whether we need to increase defence spending. The question is what tough choices we must make to do so. That is what is missing from the government's plan. The government has a plan for welfare spending until 2031, but no plans for defence spending.

So I say to the Prime Minister, let's put party interests aside. Yes, I'm glad that. I'm glad that they're laughing because I want the public to hear Labour MPs laughing when we say, let's put party in stress. So please keep laughing. Go on, please keep laughing, I say to the Prime Minister. Let's find the money to re-arm. Let's identify the spending cuts. And if we reach agreement on a joint plan, we can all support those measures in Parliament. Conservatives have already found savings to fund more than £20 billion extra for defence spending.

I am willing to work with him to go further. And in his response, Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the Prime Minister will be tempted to misrepresent my position and pretend that I demanded he join in the initial strikes. Yeah, yes, I know they can't even resist the temptation. He and I both know that is not true. But let us get serious. Let's get serious. It is time for us to act decisively in our

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