Oral Answers to Questions

Graham Stuart Excerpts

Monday 13th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Pennycook]

I understand the acute pressures that my hon. Friend faces in her constituency as a result of an excessive concentration of short-term lets. She and I met only recently to discuss that matter, but I will happily continue to engage on it with any hon. Member from across the House. As she knows, the Government appreciate that the excessive concentration of short-term lets can impact on the availability and affordability of homes, both to rent and to buy, and we continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by such concentrations.

[Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)]

In rural and coastal communities, hospitality is already under massive pressure thanks to the tax rises, regulatory impacts and other negative impositions of this Government. May I urge Ministers to ensure that if we are to bring in a registration scheme, we gather the data and do not move in too heavy-handedly, because we risk further damage to a hospitality sector that does not need it? We need to establish the data and find out whether further action is required.

[Matthew Pennycook]

I assure the right hon. Gentleman that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working closely with digital delivery experts to ensure that the registration service is robust, secure and simple to use, minimising the impact on businesses for precisely the reasons he gave.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alison McGovern]

We are at risk of breaking out in violent agreement across the House about the importance of youth services and what the Conservative party did to them.

[Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)]

The Liberal Democrats were in government! We did it together!

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Stuart, we do not need any extra help.