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 in place to encourage the (a) safe and (b) consistent development of new build housing during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government and the construction industry have previously published detailed safe working guidance, advising on how to work while maintaining social distancing requirements. This guidance has been accompanied by a joint housebuilding industry and Government developed Charter of good practice, whereby housebuilders commit to the published guidance on safe working. These interventions underpinned a safe return to work on construction sites in the Spring and would continue to apply going forward. Whilst we recognise the constraints developers have on-site, we expect quality to be at the heart of the new homes they deliver.