Business of the House

Dawn Butler Excerpts

Thursday 29th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government are very committed to community transport, and we understand its importance for all sorts of communities, not least rural ones. The hon. Lady may want to take this up as either a Backbench Business or Adjournment debate.

[Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)]

At Middle Yard apartments in my constituency, one constituent is stuck on the fourth floor because the lifts are not working, and 500 constituents are without hot water or heating, and they have been told that this situation could last for months. Harley Property Investments Ltd and Union Developments Ltd are responsible for this. Will the Leader of the House ask Energy Ministers to help urgently reconnect the gas, given that we are entering the colder months? Will he also ask the Minister for Housing for a statement, so we can look at financial mismanagement by freeholders and management companies, because they have form, with an apartment block in Hackney also without water?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I completely agree with my hon. Friend that this situation is unacceptable. It is appalling that residents are being forced to rely on temporary measures, despite paying service charges—and with no end in sight in some cases. She is absolutely right to champion her constituents’ urgent demand for the immediate restoration of services, and I hope that her words today have been heard by the developers and the managers. The leasehold Bill is coming down the track, which will hopefully right some of these wrongs, but I will also take up the matter with the Ministers most associated with this area to see if my hon. Friend can get the progress she seeks.