Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 28 Apr 2021
Redundancy Protection: Women and New Parents
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered extending redundancy protection for women and new parents.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Angela, and to raise the important issue of extending redundancy protection for women and new parents.
Regrettably, as in so many areas where …..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
" What recent discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on the (a) levelling-up fund and (b) UK shared prosperity fund. ..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
View all Kirsten Oswald (SNP - East Renfrewshire) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
"A joint statement by Ministers from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Governments criticised the UK Government for using the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 to bypass devolved Administrations. Is it not the case that the UK Government intend to use levelling-up funding to shore up support for the …..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
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Written Question
Monday 1st March 2021
Asked by:
Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will create a covid rent debt fund to support people dealing with rent arrears built up during the pandemic.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to protect renters whose income has been affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notably, to help prevent people getting into financial hardship, we have increased the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate in 2020/21 to the 30th percentile of local market rents in each area. The increased LHA rates will be maintained at the current levels in cash terms in 2021/22, even in areas where the 30th percentile of local rents has gone down. We have boosted the welfare system by billions of pounds, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by up to £1,040 for the year. In addition, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has offered support for businesses to pay staff salaries, enabling people to continue to pay their rent and has been extended until the end of April 2021.
For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. As announced at the spending round for 2020/21, there is already £180 million in DHPs for local authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housings costs in the private and social rented sectors. For 2021-22 the Government will make available £140 million in DHP funding, which takes account of the increased LHA rates.
The recently published English Housing Survey Household Resilience Study found that 93 per cent of private renters are up to date on their rent. This indicates our package of support is working, and has prevented widespread arrears.
We continue to closely monitor the ongoing effects of the pandemic on renters.
Written Question
Monday 1st March 2021
Asked by:
Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to tackle increases in the level of rent arrears in the private rented sector as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to protect renters whose income has been affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notably, to help prevent people getting into financial hardship, we have increased the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate in 2020/21 to the 30th percentile of local market rents in each area. The increased LHA rates will be maintained at the current levels in cash terms in 2021/22, even in areas where the 30th percentile of local rents has gone down. We have boosted the welfare system by billions of pounds, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by up to £1,040 for the year. In addition, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has offered support for businesses to pay staff salaries, enabling people to continue to pay their rent and has been extended until the end of April 2021.
For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. As announced at the spending round for 2020/21, there is already £180 million in DHPs for local authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housings costs in the private and social rented sectors. For 2021-22 the Government will make available £140 million in DHP funding, which takes account of the increased LHA rates.
The recently published English Housing Survey Household Resilience Study found that 93 per cent of private renters are up to date on their rent. This indicates our package of support is working, and has prevented widespread arrears.
We continue to closely monitor the ongoing effects of the pandemic on renters.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 28 Jan 2021
Holocaust Memorial Day 2021
"It is a privilege to speak in this debate and I have been very struck by the contributions from across the House. This is one of the most important dates in the parliamentary calendar because of the importance of understanding exactly what happened during the holocaust and what continues to …..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 29 Sep 2020
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill
"This Bill is shameful and the Conservative party is shameless. The Bill is misconceived, ill-advised and designed to wholly override any notion of devolution. The Welsh Government have described it as
“an affront to the people of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who have voted in favour of devolution on …..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Sep 2020
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill
"I wonder whether my hon. Friend agrees that the protestations that there is some kind of power surge are simply incompatible with the suggestion that the Office for the Internal Market will be set up in such a way as to enable it to lie above the powers of the …..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Sep 2020
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill
"On the point about credibility, does the hon. Lady think it is just possible that the reason that credibility has been lost is because of her Prime Minister disagreeing with himself rather than for any other reason?..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
View all Kirsten Oswald (SNP - East Renfrewshire) contributions to the debate on: United Kingdom Internal Market Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Sep 2020
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill
"I do not know whether the hon. Lady is aware that Scotland has more stringent targets on net zero emissions than the rest of the UK. So if there were a conflict over a new project, does she think the Scottish Parliament would simply have to accept a ruling from …..."Kirsten Oswald - View Speech
View all Kirsten Oswald (SNP - East Renfrewshire) contributions to the debate on: United Kingdom Internal Market Bill