Oral Answers to Questions

Kerry McCarthy Excerpts

Monday 19th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

Tax matters are a matter for the Chancellor.

[Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab)]

I hope next month to introduce a ten-minute rule Bill on the regulation of supported housing. I am particularly motivated by concern that unscrupulous landlords are moving into the sector so that they can take advantage of higher housing benefit rates. There is obviously an overlap with universal credit, so I wondered whether the Secretary of State has had any conversations with her colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about the fact that we badly need to regulate the sector because too many people are being exploited.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Will Quince)]

The hon. Lady is absolutely right—this issue is a concern for me and has been for some time. I am working closely with my counterpart at MHCLG and would be delighted to meet the hon. Lady to discuss progress.