Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase funding for local authorities to help reduce the number of (a) people and (b) families living in temporary accommodation; and if she will make more funding available to help local authorities tackle housing waiting lists.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £233 million this year, taking total investment to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26. This increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of people and families in temporary accommodation.

Future funding for homelessness services is subject to the outcome of phase 2 of the Spending Review.

The Government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation at Spring Statement. This investment follows £800 million of new in-year funding made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme, supporting the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being for Social Rent.

In the multi-year Spending Review later this year, the Government will set out the full details of a new grant programme to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide additional funding to local authorities to support repairs in social housing; and what steps she is taking with local authorities to ensure the adequacy of the condition of social housing.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm, and free from damp and mould.

The Deputy Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 February 2025 (HCWS423) confirming that the government will be bringing Awaab's Law into force for damp and mould in October 2025.

The government is also committed to consulting on a new Decent Homes Standard and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards this year.

We will set out plans at the next fiscal event to give councils and housing associations the rent stability they need to be able to borrow and invest in both new and existing homes, while also ensuring that there are appropriate protections for both existing and future social housing tenants.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of the 1.5 million homes expected to be built in this Parliament will be designated as social housing; and what criteria her Department uses to designate new housing as affordable.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has not set an affordable housing target to date, but we are committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

Affordable housing is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Found: Q3 Ben Coleman: They did not believe you were in labour.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate investment in Morocco as part of the 2030 International Federation of Association Football World Cup.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK-Morocco Association Agreement, which entered into force in January 2021, facilitates our trading relationship. HM Government is keen to strengthen trade ties with Morocco. In January 2025, Ben Coleman MP was appointed Trade Envoy for Morocco and Francophone West Africa. Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Morocco was £4.2 billion in 2024, up £0.6bn in current prices from 2023.

In March 2025, Gareth Thomas MP, Minister of State for Services, Small Business and Exports, visited Morocco with a delegation of businesses to showcase UK support for major infrastructure projects and signed a declaration of intent with the Head of the World Cup Committee to progress UK-Morocco collaboration on Morocco’s co-hosting of the Men’s Football World Cup in 2030. The UK looks forward to working with Morocco on this event and other infrastructure projects.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance of the United Kingdom's trading relationship with Morocco.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK-Morocco Association Agreement, which entered into force in January 2021, facilitates our trading relationship. HM Government is keen to strengthen trade ties with Morocco. In January 2025, Ben Coleman MP was appointed Trade Envoy for Morocco and Francophone West Africa. Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Morocco was £4.2 billion in 2024, up £0.6bn in current prices from 2023.

In March 2025, Gareth Thomas MP, Minister of State for Services, Small Business and Exports, visited Morocco with a delegation of businesses to showcase UK support for major infrastructure projects and signed a declaration of intent with the Head of the World Cup Committee to progress UK-Morocco collaboration on Morocco’s co-hosting of the Men’s Football World Cup in 2030. The UK looks forward to working with Morocco on this event and other infrastructure projects.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen trade between the United Kingdom and Morocco.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade is committed to helping UK businesses export to Morocco, supported by the UK-Morocco Association Agreement in force since January 2021. Bilateral trade was worth £4.2 billion in 2024, up £0.6 billion in current prices from 2023. An example of the opportunities for further UK-Morocco business partnerships comes with Morocco co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, where opportunities are emerging for British businesses.

In January 2025, Ben Coleman MP was appointed Trade Envoy for Morocco and Francophone West Africa to support the UK’s growth agenda with Morocco.

Found: Uma Kumaran Rebecca Paul Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kate Osamor Dr Allison Gardner David Baines Ben Coleman

Found: Uma Kumaran Rebecca Paul Dame Siobhain McDonagh Kate Osamor Dr Allison Gardner David Baines Ben Coleman