Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish further information on his proposals to help tackle (a) unaffordable and (b) unregulated ground rents.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to UIN 74455 on 15 September 2025.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to recognise (a) private and (b) communal gardens as a part of green infrastructure in the delivery of (i) net zero and (ii) climate resilience strategies.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework defines green infrastructure as a network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features – urban and rural – that are capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health, and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity.
In this context, private and communal gardens can form part of green infrastructure, as they are capable of falling under this broad definition.
The Framework further makes clear that new development should be planned for in ways that avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. When new development is brought forward in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through incorporating green infrastructure.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help promote (a) private and (b) communal garden space in new housing developments; and whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing minimum garden density of 29.5% in all new developments.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework emphasises the importance of a network of high quality, open spaces for the health and wellbeing of communities and the environment. This is supported by national design guidance, which explains that well designed places provide both usable private and public open green spaces, which can include private and communal gardens.
We currently have no plans to assess the merits of introducing minimum garden density in new developments.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of funding for local authorities to support homelessness (a) prevention and (b) relief.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government inherited a homelessness crisis. In response we are providing over £1 billion for homelessness services this year, a £316 million increase on the previous year. The 2025 Spending Review has protected this record level of investment for the next three years.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce disparities in the number of people from ethnic minority communities experiencing (a) homelessness and (B) rough sleeping.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
No one should be discriminated against when trying to access a safe, secure and affordable home. Councils should ensure that homelessness accommodation and support services are inclusive, culturally sensitive, and responsive to the specific needs of different communities, helping to build trust and improve engagement.
The Government is committed to getting back on track to ending homelessness, and our cross-Government strategy will set out the actions needed across central and local government and the homelessness sector to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. We have already taken the first steps, investing more than £1 billion in homelessness and rough sleeping services this year, a £316 million increase on the previous year. Councils can use this funding flexibly to meet the needs of people in their communities.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of funding to local authorities to support homelessness (a) prevention and (b) relief in Manchester Rusholme constituency.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million this year to a total of more than £1 billion. This includes an extra £84 million announced on 10 October 2025.
Local authority allocations are published through gov.uk here.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data his Department holds on the number of households in temporary accommodation in Manchester; and what his policy is on reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation in Manchester.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government publishes data on the number of people in temporary accommodation in England on gov.uk here.
The Government is working to get back on track to ending homelessness, including developing a new cross-Government strategy and increasing funding for homelessness services this year by £316 million to a total of more than £1 billion.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is her policy that her Department's planned affordable housing will meet the (a) best practice guidance from the revised Decent Homes Standard and (b) best practice guidance on furniture provision.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 2 July, the government opened a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors. It seeks views on a range of issues including whether landlords should provide suitable floor coverings in all rooms at the start of every tenancy. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of levels of furniture poverty in social housing in Manchester Rusholme constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 2 July, the government opened a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors. It seeks views on a range of issues including whether landlords should provide suitable floor coverings in all rooms at the start of every tenancy. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to help tackle levels of furniture poverty for people living in social housing.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 2 July, the government opened a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the social and private rented sectors. It seeks views on a range of issues including whether landlords should provide suitable floor coverings in all rooms at the start of every tenancy. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.