Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Percy Excerpts

Monday 4th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

In the Budget, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor set out the planning reforms that we are looking at, which will have an impact on local authorities bringing forward more sites more quickly for building. We have also announced an uplift of up to £1 billion for the housing revenue account, which will make a substantial difference.

[Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con)]

12. What steps his Department is taking to ensure access to safe social housing for victims of domestic violence.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Marcus Jones)]

Victims fleeing abuse must be given appropriate priority access to social housing. We are consulting on new guidance that makes it clear to local authorities that victims moving on from refuges should be given the appropriate priority and that any residency test should not be applied.

[Andrew Percy]

Members on both sides of the House hold Women’s Aid in high regard. It has stated that the Government’s new model will close refuges. What assurance can the Minister give the House that that will not be the case?

[Mr Jones]

I can reassure my hon. Friend that that will not be the case. We will continue the funding at exactly the same level as currently. There will be a dedicated grant for local authorities that will be ring-fenced in the long term, and we will also make sure that vulnerable people will not need to deal with the payment of rent at a very difficult time in their lives.