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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on economic supply chains of the (a) construction industry and (b) residential property purchase sector.

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant effect on the housing market and the Government has taken unprecedented measures to help those facing challenges, from supporting the construction sector to re-opening the housing market.

The Government continues to work closely with the construction sector following the outbreak to ensure that it is in a position to support the economic recovery. This includes the work of the Construction Leadership Council’s Coronavirus Task Force, which has established a product availability working group comprised of product manufacturers, builders’ merchants and suppliers, contractors of all sizes, and housebuilders. The Task Force continues to monitor the supply of products, and is working to address any disruption to supply chains.

To support the property sector and home buyers the Government has: amended the regulations on moving home, issued guidance to help people move safely, and temporarily cut Stamp Duty Land Tax for home buyers until the end of the financial year.