Oral Answers to Questions

John Cooper Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Angela Rayner]

I am very happy to join the right hon. Member in paying tribute to Swaledale mountain rescue and its dedicated volunteers. The rescue that he references demonstrates the vital work that they do, alongside the fire and rescue service, and I thank them for everything that they do to keep us safe.

[John Cooper (Dumfries and Galloway) (Con)]

2. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the rate of house building.

[The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)]

This Government are determined to achieve high and sustainable rates of house building, which is precisely why we have undertaken the most rapid, holistic and radical overhaul of the housing and planning system in decades. The headwinds are without question severe, but there are encouraging signs of progress, not least the 15% increase in housing starts that we saw over the last 12 months, ending in June this year.

[John Cooper]

Statistics are like bathing costumes: what they reveal is interesting, and what they conceal is absolutely vital. The statistics we heard in that answer conceal the fact that this Government are on line to build fewer houses than the last Conservative Government did in a parliamentary term blighted by covid, when many building sites were completely shut down. When it comes to housing, this Government are drowning, not waving, aren’t they?

[Matthew Pennycook]

This Government are building, and that 15% increase in starts is a testament to that. I have lost count of the number of times that I have made it clear in this Chamber that our 1.5 million new homes target is an incredibly stretching one, but we remain committed to it. We will not take lectures from a party that fell short of its own distinctly unambitious target of 1 million homes in the last Parliament.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matthew Pennycook]

Local authorities have powers to take action where a designated heritage asset has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk. These powers include carrying out urgent works to preserve a listed building, requiring an owner to carry out work and, if appropriate, compulsory purchase. I will be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss those powers further.

[John Cooper (Dumfries and Galloway) (Con)]

T3. This Government are facilitating a property grab by allowing councils to seize properties that have been left vacant for as little as six months. Rather than stealing properties, would not the Secretary of State be better using the powers of state to cut regulation, cut taxes and get more houses built?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Jim McMahon)]

The fact is that there is not a community, high street or town centre in any part of the country that is not blighted by a building that stubbornly will not be brought back into use. It is right that if owners are not willing to take action, the Government will do.