Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much of his Department's budget has been allocated to addressing overcrowding in housing in each of the last five years.

The Government believes that increasing supply of housing is the best way to tackle overcrowding.

Last year, net additions to supply of housing increased by 25% on the previous year, the highest increase for 28 years.

In the recent Spending Review, and in the Prime Minister’s announcement of 4 January this year, we have announced the biggest affordable housing programme since the 1970’s, aimed at bringing land into the system, increasing rates of build out, increasing opportunities for home ownership, and delivering a step change in housing supply.

We have also provided £6.7 million to a number of local authorities to help them tackle acute and complex problems associated with rogue landlords, many of whom rent out overcrowded properties.