Oral Answers to Questions

Elsie Blundell Excerpts

Monday 12th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

I congratulate the hon. Lady for laying out to the House what sounds like a complicated situation for her constituents. We will take what she says under advisement, as part of the process. I am always happy to make myself available to meet Members of this House.

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

With many local authorities spending less than 1% of their household support fund on furniture, many domestic abuse survivors are being placed in social housing without access to essential furniture or white goods. What assurances can the Minister give this winter to residents in Heywood and Middleton North who, although grateful for the fresh start that social housing can offer, are living—often with children—in properties that feel bare, cold and not like home?

[Alison McGovern]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that really important issue. One of the reasons why I and the Safeguarding Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips), worked closely together on both the homelessness strategy and the violence against women and girls strategy was to ensure that that area of policy joined up—16% of homelessness is caused by domestic abuse. That is why we will not stop until those families leaving refuge have a decent place to be—including the furniture they need—to make a house a home.