Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q8. What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken by the Building Safety Regulator on critical infrastructure. (900405)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question eight, please. >> Minister thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to make sure Care and NHS England to make sure the building safety regulator aids delivery of critical NHS infrastructure. This includes introducing a dedicated team within the BSR to focus specifically on hospitals, as well as producing targeted guidance for NHS trusts.

15:03

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Devon Ellis. grateful to the Minister's department for their work with me. On unblocking a major housing scheme in my constituency. She rightly mentioned challenges with the BSR now and major health facilities. I was pleased to hear what she said, but can I really ask her to work as closely as possible with the Department of Health? with the Department of Health? Because we need to see these new NHS buildings being built, just as we need the new homes to be built.

Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Minister.

15:03

Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP (Oxford East, Labour )

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sorry to hear about the delays and problems in my hon. Friend's constituency, and I want to reassure her. We take we're taking serious action on this particular matter, so I will work closely with the Department for Health and Social Social Care, as well as the BSR to try and improve the BSR to try and improve the situation for her.

15:03

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Thanks, madam.

15:04

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Mr. speaker, my Department is working closely with the Department for transport to consider reforms to adoption and highways frameworks. to adoption and highways frameworks. We also recently consulted on reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, including proposals to increase the including proposals to increase the adoption of estate amenities such as roads on new developments. That consultation closed on the 12th of March and we're analysing the feedback received.

15:04

Alex Mayer MP (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, Labour)

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Alex Mayer thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents in Forest Grove have been battling for ten years to get a piece of land adopted that is strewn with litter elsewhere in my strewn with litter elsewhere in my constituency, roads are not gritted during the winter months. We've got an area where they can't get a postbox in Bidwell West and where a car crashed into a house. We can't get any speed humps. What can the Minister do to put some pressure on the council to hurry up?

15:04

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Minister? particularly egregious cases, and my hon. Friend is right to highlight the detrimental consequences of declining road adoption rates. The DfT is adoption rates. The DfT is reviewing barriers to adoption, with a view to identifying improvements and informing future reforms. Alongside the consultation I referenced, when it comes to individual local authorities, we've put it mildly some are better than others. We know that Central Bedfordshire obviously has some ground to make up, but that's one of the issues we're considering as part of the policy development process in respect of that consultation.

15:05

John Milne MP (Horsham, Liberal Democrat)

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John Milne thank. >> John Milne thank. >> You, Mr. Speaker. In my constituency of Horsham, we have to deal with increasing numbers of unadopted roads, either because the unadopted roads, either because the developer wants to leave it with an estate manager, which means an annual charge, or because the road does not meet the construction does not meet the construction standard to satisfy the local highways department. Both issues are ripe for exploitation of residents. So will the Minister consider issuing guidance to control these abuses?

15:05

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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We will do better than that, Mr. Speaker. We consulted very specifically as part of our consultation on ending the prevalence of these particular arrangements. What more we can do arrangements. What more we can do in terms of common adoptable standards and exploring mandatory adoption for certain public amenities in certain circumstances? If the hon. Gentleman has read the CMA report into this issue, he will know that the two are absolutely essential. We can't mandate local authorities until we've got common adoptable standards. If that's the

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route we go down, we have to do them both at the same time. Mr. Tottenham, question number. Ten, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister. Mr. speaker, Mhclg Ministers

15:06

Q10. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the introduction of a licensing scheme for short-term lets. (900408)

>> Mr. speaker, Mhclg Ministers engage regularly with ministerial colleagues across government in relation to a range of housing policy matters. We continue to

15:06

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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policy matters. We continue to consider what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by short term

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pressures created by short term lets, as well as second homes. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. In my constituency, Whitby is being hollowed out by short term lets. Bordered by the sea and a national park house

15:06

Alison Hume MP (Scarborough and Whitby, Labour)

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building cannot solve the problem of a lack of affordable housing for residents. We must also release residents. We must also release more existing homes for families in the town. Can the Minister commit to ensuring licensing for short term lets will be legislated for at the earliest opportunity in this the earliest opportunity in this Parliament as registration schemes, whilst welcome, will not be robust enough to tackle the problem.

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Mr. I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Mr. speaker, let me be clear. There is no credible solution to the housing crisis that does not involve significantly boosting housing supply, but my hon. Friend is absolutely right to argue

15:07

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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that the distribution of homes in any given area has a significant bearing on housing availability and bearing on housing availability and affordability. As she knows, the government has already made changes to the tax system to reorientate the housing market away from second the housing market away from second home owners and investors, and towards local people looking for homes to live in. While I'm afraid I can't commit to future I can't commit to future legislation, I can assure her that we continue to consider how best we ensure that local planning

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authorities have the full set of tools they need to manage challenges of the kind she's described. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I met representatives from 22 town and parish councils, all deeply concerned that new government policies are curtailing their power over planning decisions, and also at the lack of truly

15:08

Caroline Voaden MP (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)

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affordable homes for locals. I understand the government has has a house building target, but the house building target, but the housing crisis in South Devon is being exacerbated by the spread of second homes and holiday lets, removing even former council homes removing even former council homes from the market and leading to a shortage in rental properties. However, we do not know the true However, we do not know the true extent of the issue without the short term registration scheme. So when will the department introduce

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the register so we can control short term holiday lets in our rural and coastal towns? Yeah.

15:08

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Minister Mr. Speaker, my department is not responsible for the national registration scheme for short term lets. That's DCMS. They are committed to implementing it as soon as possible. When it is implemented, it will capture any implemented, it will capture any property used as a short term rental accommodation, including. And I think this is really important. Second homes which operate as short term loans.

15:08

Q11. What steps he is taking to implement safeguards for pre-candidacy donations. (900409)

Or Tottenham. >> Stafford Mr. Speaker, we've introduced the representation of the people. >> Bill, which will close loopholes that could allow foreign money to enter UK politics and undermine trust. Alongside these measures, we are considering the Ryecroft review's recommendations, including on candidate donations, and will set out our full response shortly.

15:09

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Mr. speaker.

15:09

Lloyd Hatton MP (South Dorset, Labour)

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I told you that just before the general election, a soon to be MP had pocketed a £5 million cash gift had pocketed a £5 million cash gift from a crypto crypto billionaire living halfway across the world and soon after receiving this lucrative soon after receiving this lucrative gift, the very same politician had then announced a new policy to slash taxes for the crypto industry. Well, Mr. Speaker, you might think that something concerning is going on. So does the Minister agree that no British politician should be for sale to the highest bidder? And will they commit to using the elections bill to slam the door shut on secret cash gifts to senior politicians?

15:09

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Minister thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> Minister thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is clear that the integrity and transparency of our political system must be protected. political system must be protected. The rules we have in place are designed to ensure that political donations are free from, from, from legitimate sources and are properly declared. However, we recognise the need to ensure our rules remain effective and address emerging risks. We are already delivering a package of reforms through the Representation of the People Bill, and will also consider the recommendations from the right of review and work with the Electoral Commission and others to ensure the system remains resilient for the future.

15:10

Q12. What recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of exit fees for retirement homes. (900410)

Umbrella number. >> 12. Mr. speaker. >> Mr. Mr Speaker event fees should be fair, transparent and communicated effectively. The government continues to give government continues to give careful consideration to the recommendations set out in the Older People's Housing Task Force Final report, including in respect of implementing the Law Commission's 2017 recommendations to regulate event fees. to regulate event fees.

15:10

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A constituent of mine has been unable to wind up his late uncle's estate since 2023. The shared ownership retirement plan, managed by Abbey in Poundbury, is incurring 1500 £0 in service charges. Even if they do in service charges. Even if they do find a buyer, those charges, plus the exit fees, are effectively going to wipe out any value from going to wipe out any value from the sale. So what steps is the government taking to tackle excessive service charges and ban excessive service charges and ban exit fees in the retirement housing sector?

15:11

Edward Morello MP (West Dorset, Liberal Democrat)

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Minister. really important issue. We did consult last year on a package of measures to strengthen leaseholder protections that included around the use of event fees, and will be responding to that consultation, hopefully in the near future. On resale values more widely. They are influenced by a range of factors, influenced by a range of factors, but the Older People's Housing Task Force, which I earlier referenced, commented on resale values and what commented on resale values and what might be done, a series of recommendations which we are carefully considering.

15:11

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Thank you sir.

15:12

Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )

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Unfair terms. leaving grieving families in Derby trapped, facing huge exit fees, whilst extortionate service charges on the empty property rack. Will on the empty property rack. Will the Minister support these families by addressing the unfair terms that they face when a parent or loved one passes away?

15:12

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Minister. question. As I've just made clear, we are looking very carefully at resale values and to the older People's Housing Task Force People's Housing Task Force recommendations in this area. I wonder if he, as well as the hon. Member for West Dorset, might send me some of the examples they've referenced. Any evidence we can get on how this is affecting homeowners across the country and their families would be incredibly useful.

15:12

Lewis Cocking MP (Broxbourne, Conservative)

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Shadow Minister Lewis Cocking. >> Mr. Speaker, the Minister should also be considering the impact of the conveyancing process on this important issue. I've had many complaints from older people in my complaints from older people in my constituency about the lack of transparency from solicitors. Then families are hit with huge fees at families are hit with huge fees at the worst possible time. If people knew what they were signing up for, I'm sure that lots of these properties would never be solved. Would the Minister commit to going further than the older person's housing Taskforce report, and look closely at the conveyancing process?

15:13

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Mr. forgot to welcome the hon. Gentleman to his place, which I do. He's diligently pursued the issue of conveyancing and buying and selling over many months, not least in his role in the Select Committee. I can't go further this Dispatch I can't go further this Dispatch Box than the fact that we are carefully considering the older People's Housing Task Force recommendations, but I'm more than happy to sit down with him and discuss this issue if he'd like to do so.

15:13

Q13. What steps he is taking to build more social and affordable homes in Blaydon and Consett constituency. (900411)

Leicester West question 13. >> Mr. Speaker. >> Minister me again, Mr. Speaker, we remain focussed on implementing the five step plan we published in the five step plan we published in July last year to deliver a decade of social and affordable housing renewal. We received incredibly renewal. We received incredibly ambitious bids for our 39 billion social and Affordable Homes programme, and we're in the process of assessing them with a view to a timely announcement of allocations. And, Mr. Speaker, as you know, our social housing bill, which will give affordable housing providers give affordable housing providers the clarity and confidence they need to build more social homes, is also making good progress in the Other place.

Other place.

15:14

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Leicester West Mr. Speaker, for 14 years, the Conservatives presided over a housebuilding crisis that locked a generation out of home ownership and left social housing in short supply. In Blaydon and Consett. My constituents have been calling for years for more social and affordable housing to be built. Will the Minister tell me built. Will the Minister tell me how this government are going to the extra mile to ensure that we deliver on the calls of my deliver on the calls of my constituents for more social homes? Yes, Minister.

15:14

Liz Twist MP (Blaydon and Consett, Labour)

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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I'd go further than she did. I think the previous government deliberately set out to engineer the decline of social rented housing in this country, and not least through the reforms that they made to the right to buy, which we made to the right to buy, which we are reversing through that social housing bill. As I make clear to my hon. Friend, we received ambitious bids from affordable housing providers across the country. That includes in the North East that will allow councils and housing associations to start using that grant to build at scale.

Once again.

15:15

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Helen Hayes Tottenham 14.

15:15

Q14. What steps his Department is taking to improve the regulation of tenant and resident management organisations. (900412)

Mr Speaker Minister. remains committed to the principle of tenants and leaseholders taking over certain management functions from their landlords and following from their landlords and following a review of existing arrangements for the oversight of tenant management organisations, we intend to take steps to make it easier to do so. Existing statutory guidance sets out a process to intervene in cases of mismanagement, but as part cases of mismanagement, but as part of our reform agenda, we will strengthen governance and oversight, including stronger safeguards in cases where tenant safety is at risk.

15:15

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Helen Hayes thank you, Mr. Speaker. suffered years of appalling services from their resident management organisation, the Loughborough Estate Management

15:15

Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood, Labour)

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Board, including including a failing repair service, dangerous chemicals being stored in their chemicals being stored in their community centre, allegations of threats and harassment, and more than £350,000 of funding being than £350,000 of funding being spent on overseas trips and gifts. 18 months ago, residents voted overwhelmingly not to renew the mandate of the Loughborough Estate Management Board. Yet they are still operating, and there appears still operating, and there appears to be no straightforward mechanism for local council can use to close this failing organisation down.

Will my hon. Friend the Minister, work with me to bring this scandalous situation to an end and ensure the residents of the Loughborough estate receive the housing services they pay for and deserve.

15:16

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend for >> I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this, I have to say, alarming case to my attention. We are clear that as we look to make it easier to establish Tmos, and we want to do so, there are some very good ones out there. We must strengthen governance and accountability, and I can assure her that as part of that effort, the Secretary of State and I will be giving specific consideration to how extreme cases of mismanagement might be brought to an end as a mechanism of last resort.

Yes.

15:16

David Simmonds MP (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, Conservative)

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Thank you very much indeed. Mr. speaker, I commend the hon. Member speaker, I commend the hon. Member for raising this issue, which is a subset of a wider issue, which I know many members will have heard know many members will have heard from constituents. So can the Secretary of State tell the House what concrete steps they have in mind as a government off the back of the legislation passed with their support by the previous conservative government and the legislation currently being consulted on to ensure that the kinds of rip off fees and simply unfair arrangements that either shuffle costs onto council taxpayers for tenants in social housing or onto the wallets a private tenants can be prevented in the future, so people can have confidence that these arrangements will provide the homes that they need that are fit for the future.

15:17

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Minister. >> Minister. >> I thank the Shadow Minister for that very reasonable and apt question. We do need confidence in question. We do need confidence in the system. Many tenant management organisations provide excellent resident led housing services, but it's right that councils can intervene if things go wrong. Powers to intervene in cases of serious failings are included in the management agreement between councils and Tmos. But as I've just said in response to my hon. Friend, we are reviewing where we can go further in terms of governance and accountability to ensure the right safeguards are in place.

15:18

Q16. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Pride in Place funding on levels of community cohesion in Aldershot constituency. (900414)

Alex Baker question 16. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I'm delighted that Cherrywood and the member's constituency of Aldershot will be receiving up to Aldershot will be receiving up to £20 million over the next decade as part of the government's expanded Pride in Place programme. These are significant sums of money that have been committed by the government to equip the community with the resources and power to drive local resources and power to drive local change, bring people together and restore a sense of pride in their area.

15:18

Nesil Caliskan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Barking, Labour)

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Thank you.

15:18

Alex Baker MP (Aldershot, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Having campaigned hard for investment. the Member of Parliament, I'm really proud that this government has invested £20 million in Cherrywood Ward. Can the Minister Cherrywood Ward. Can the Minister set out how this Pride in Place funding will help strengthen our community ties, give local people a voice in shaping the place that they call home and make a difference to families living in Farnborough.

15:19

Nesil Caliskan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Barking, Labour)

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Minister Mr. speaker, can I congratulate the hon. Member for her strong campaigning for her her strong campaigning for her constituency, to secure investment for her area, and she asks an important question about local important question about local people having a say over their local areas because they know best. The Pride and Place programme represents a break from the Micro-management approach of previous regeneration funds, and local boards are provided with the interventions and autonomy they need to pursue the change their community want to see youth centres, libraries, green spaces, cultural venues and help for families, including family hubs will all be in the scope of support for more cohesive and resilient communities.

15:19

Topical questions: Housing, Communities and Local Government

Go to top. Lewes. Lauren Edwards. >> Lowestoft. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday marked the ninth Yesterday marked the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, a day for remembrance and for

15:19

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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sombre reflection. The 72 residents who so tragically lost their lives will never be forgotten. And my will never be forgotten. And my thoughts are with the survivors, bereaved families and all those affected. I know they have the affected. I know they have the deepest sympathies of the whole House. We accepted the inquiry's House. We accepted the inquiry's findings last year and we will take forward action on all 58 recommendations. Determined that

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recommendations. Determined that nothing like this can ever happen again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his comments about Grenfell. I also welcome the the legislation the government has introduced to lower the voting age to 16 and to make it easier for people to register to vote. But has the Minister also considered the potential benefits of increasing potential benefits of increasing participation in elections by adding none of the above option on all ballot papers, a change which all ballot papers, a change which could be made without the need for primary legislation?

15:20

Lauren Edwards MP (Rochester and Strood, Labour)

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Yes.

15:20

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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Well, I mean, the government is very interested indeed in increasing participation and in elections. I know from personal elections. I know from personal experience that the biggest way to do that is to increase levels of campaigning, because that increases turnout in those elections. But beyond that, the government has already piloted flexible voting pilots at the May 2026 elections, testing, early voting and the use of non-traditional places where people can go and vote. And the Democratic Engagement Fund is providing £2.5 million to support local projects that encourage more people to vote.

But of course, we want to look at all proposals to get people out and voting, because that is central to the efficiency and effectiveness of our democracy.

15:21

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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Shadow Secretary of State. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I echo the words of the Secretary of echo the words of the Secretary of State, nine years on from the terrible fire at Grenfell, it's incredibly important that we learn the lessons from that tragedy and ensure that people are protected in their homes. Mr. speaker, Labour says that 16 and 17 year olds are mature enough to vote, but in a written answer to me, they also say that 16 and 17 year olds are not mature enough to serve on juries because it is, and I quote, an adult duty they see.

They say 16 and 17 year olds should vote, but they also say that they shouldn't be playing on their phones. After the government defined bedtime of 830 in the evening. And these are just two of the list of inconsistencies triggered by their votes at 16. The only consistent thing about the votes at 16 policy is the blatant political party self-interest, isn't it?

15:22

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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Thursday? >> Of course, while. >> I'm not. >> Sure about that last point, the laughter across the chamber, I think, probably answers that one think, probably answers that one for him. But of course, 16 and 17 year olds were able to vote in some elections in parts of the United elections in parts of the United Kingdom while he was in government as well. And if he really felt that 16 and 17 year olds shouldn't be able to vote anywhere, then he would have done something about it.

It's only right that we standardise the system so that people of that age can vote in all elections across the country. I, for one, welcome the increase in the franchise and encouraging more people to get out and participate. It's their country too, and they deserve a say. And I hope that young people under the age of 18 will look at the Conservatives, try to deny them the vote, and remember that when they are in the ballot box in future.

15:23

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP (Braintree, Conservative)

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Sir James. Vote green. Mr. speaker, travellers. Built an. >> Unauthorised development in Willows Green in my constituency over a bank holiday weekend. I wrote to the Secretary of State wrote to the Secretary of State about this, and his reply amounted to little more than hand-wringing word salad. If he is serious about ending the abuse of retrospective planning in Essex and elsewhere, why won't he take up the proposals that we have put forward and end the build first and apply later culture first?

15:24

Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Streatham and Croydon North, Labour )

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Well. government is is doing. We are looking at how we can tackle those builders who those developers who go ahead and build and then seek go ahead and build and then seek retrospectively planning consent. It's not acceptable. We've put more money into councils that they can fund building control functions, which were severely underfunded under the government when he was in office. That gives them more powers to take action, precisely the kind he's calling for. He had 14 years to do it.

He didn't. So we're doing it for them.

15:24

Alistair Strathern MP (Hitchin, Labour)

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There's just utter. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> New towns like Tempsford should offer an opportunity to ease development pressures, not add to them. So can I thank the Minister for listening to my representations to ensure it's included within CBC's housing targets if it comes forward, rather than being an addition. But across central beds, we've seen lots of examples of development coming forward without the right infrastructure. So as we explore the vehicles required to bring forward new towns like Tempsford, how can we make sure we do everything possible to get infrastructure right from the outset?

15:25

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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I'm grateful to my hon. Friend, Mr. Speaker, for his constructive engagement on the New Towns engagement on the New Towns programme and Tempsford in particular. That didn't help inform our approach, including that new town proposals should contribute town proposals should contribute towards meeting the identified housing need of relevant authorities. In all instances where assessing options for delivery vehicles across the proposed sites. Absolutely. With a view to ensuring that each is best placed to drive delivery and secure essential infrastructure in a timely manner.

15:25

Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)

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Sarah Olney thank. >> The government's proposed high value council tax surcharge will be collected by councils but retained by the Treasury. If councils are neither controlling the charge or keeping the revenue. Why is it being called a council tax? Will the Minister therefore commit to changing this misleading policy title? And given that most of the revenue from the surcharge will be raised in London, will the government ensure that a fair proportion is reinvested in the capital?

15:25

Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Birkenhead, Labour)

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Minister. >> Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the. I think that I was very thank the. I think that I was very busy last week. I can assure the Shadow Secretary of State. I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I the hon. Lady for her question. I think most people are bothered about the fairness of the council tax system. That's why it's right that the Chancellor introduced this policy rather than what it's called. I think it's important that we get on with it and introduce fairness into the system.

15:26

Tom Collins MP (Worcester, Labour)

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Collins. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department for Education has recently released new guidance for recently released new guidance for local authorities on the role of family hubs. It describes a significant departure from conventional delivery models with a conventional delivery models with a high degree of network and partnership delivery, not only with public bodies, but also with the voluntary sector and businesses. A change in culture that would improve all areas of local authority delivery. What measures might the department consider to foster and facilitate networking and best practice sharing across local authorities? And will the Minister meet with me to discuss how the family APPG, which I chair, might help deliver this culture change?

15:26

Manuela Perteghella MP (Stratford-on-Avon, Liberal Democrat)

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Yes I will. Mr. speaker. >> The old British Home Stores building, situated at the heart of Stratford upon Avon, lies disused Stratford upon Avon, lies disused and crumbling, a blight on the beauty of our high Street. Does the Minister agree that he must be made easier for communities to tackle eyesore buildings by imposing harsher measures on offending landlords and strengthening measures to allow local authorities to bring them back into productive use?

15:27

Nesil Caliskan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Barking, Labour)

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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And can I thank the hon. Member for raising a very important issue. The devolution Bill goes to some extent to addressing that, but can I also take the opportunity to highlight that the government is pushing ahead with the high streets rental auctions, which are helping to bring long term empty shops back into use? Jayne Kirkham thank you, Mr. Speaker. The King's Speech contains an overnight visitor levy to be devolved to mayoral strategic authorities and potentially foundation strategic authorities to most coastal and rural areas that struggle with the impacts of tourism are not in mayoral areas.

So can the Minister confirm that Fsas will also receive the power to put on the levy and meet with put on the levy and meet with discuss.

15:28

Jayne Kirkham MP (Truro and Falmouth, Labour )

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A Minister? it's my second reminder of how important coastal communities are, and I recognise that the first time, when I did the adjournment

15:28

Nesil Caliskan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Barking, Labour)

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88. Just last week. The fiscal >> 88. Just last week. The fiscal tools that will drive good growth in respective areas through Merrill strategic authorities is something that the government is committed to, that the government is committed to, and we've recently consulted on extending the power to, and will publish a response shortly.

15:28

Ian Sollom MP (St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, Liberal Democrat)

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Ian Sollom thank you, Mr. Speaker. The recently announced Greater Cambridge Development Greater Cambridge Development Corporation has been billed by the government as infrastructure First development. So could the Minister development. So could the Minister set out what specific new infrastructure it will have the responsibility for delivering and

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by when? The hon. Gentleman knows we're in the process of establishing that Greater Cambridge Development Corporation, and we'll set out further details, as we have just a few days ago, in terms of its few days ago, in terms of its development management powers, its planning powers and the specific sites it will be looking at going

15:29

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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forward. >> Joe Morris thank. >> You. >> Mr. Speaker. Rural housing. >> Availability is in crisis, and

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Availability is in crisis, and all tenants of an estate in my constituency near Haltwhistle, many of whom are elderly tenants in their 70s and 80s, receive section 21 notices a week before the Renter's Rights Act was due to come into effect. In a rural community into effect. In a rural community like this, there simply is not similar housing nearby. It is the dismantling of a rural community. dismantling of a rural community. Would he therefore meet with me to discuss support that he can offer for constituents and further steps we can take to support rural communities being being victimised by these practices?

15:29

Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)

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I thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. I appreciate fully his concern about the potential mass eviction of his constituents. Mr. speaker, it is precisely so that private tenants can enjoy greater security, including the growing number of older people who now rent their homes, that we abolish section 21 homes, that we abolish section 21 no fault evictions. I am happy to meet with him to discuss the case further and what more support we might provide.

15:30

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whitstable's latest drought was a few weeks ago during a heatwave, leaving many residents and local businesses high and dry. South East water tell me and my neighbours that they cannot guarantee meeting current demand, so we'll be unable to guarantee meeting additional new to guarantee meeting additional new homes demand. Has the Secretary of State met with them, or Canterbury City Council to discuss this issue?

15:30

Rosie Duffield MP (Canterbury, Independent)

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Mr. speaker, we meet. We meet with a range of stakeholders through the Water Delivery Task Force. I understand that in response to Canterbury's Local Plan consultation, the Environment Agency has recommended close liaison between the Authority and South East Water to ensure that planned housing growth is located planned housing growth is located where additional water is available to supply new development. Adam Jogee thank.

15:30

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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You very much, Mr. Speaker. In 2022, my constituents at number one London Road in Newcastle Line were told that urgent action was needed due to fire safety concerns over the building's cladding. It's now 2026. Four years later, that urgent action is yet to begin. So can the Minister set out what steps she will take to ensure that the BSR functions effectively and does not create greater risk for significant delays? Delays that have a huge impact on those directly impacted impact on those directly impacted in Newcastle and across the country?

15:31

Adam Jogee MP (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Labour)

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Minister thank.

15:31

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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Member has been working really hard to. Support his constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme on these in Newcastle-under-Lyme on these really important issues. I am happy to meet with him, but to reassure him, the work going on for the building safety regulator to improve performance and it is bearing fruit.

15:31

Siân Berry MP (Brighton Pavilion, Green Party)

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Joe Powell. >> Joe Powell. >> Mr. speaker, many councils, especially Brighton and Hove, with hundreds of acquisitions since 2017, hundreds of acquisitions since 2017, are doing their best to buy as well as build their supply of new council housing. More family homes council housing. More family homes can be provided and the speeds of the benefits gives it a different Treasury business case. So will the Secretary of State help me win the Chancellor's support for the idea of a massive new, dedicated buy the supply fund for councils?

15:31

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Minister. >> Well, Mr. Speaker, funding is already available to councils to acquire new market homes for social and affordable housing through our and affordable housing through our Social and Affordable Homes programme. They can obviously also programme. They can obviously also rely on section 106 contributions and the Local authority housing Fund. The fourth round of which makes £950 million available for councils to acquire homes for better quality temporary accommodation.

15:32

Jonathan Davies MP (Mid Derbyshire, Labour)

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Jonathan Davies. >> Jonathan Davies. >> Thank you very much. >> Mr. Speaker. >> National parks. >> And natural landscapes provide huge benefit to people's health and huge benefit to people's health and wellbeing and biodiversity and the economy as well. So can the Minister tell me what steps we may Minister tell me what steps we may be able to take through the future? NPPF, that the next iteration of that will ensure that the aforementioned benefits are not undermined when there are infrastructure projects which must must be progressed?

15:32

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Minister Mr. Speaker, we continue to target a win win for both development and nature. I'm both development and nature. I'm more than happy to sit down with my hon. Friend to discuss how the NPPF contributes to that objective. >> Worcester. Neil Hudson.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Outrageously, today, the government has stripped Epping Forest District Council of the sole local right to determine major planning applications. This means that my constituents will have major planning decisions taken by

15:33

Dr Neil Hudson MP (Epping Forest, Conservative)

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central government and not by our local council. Epping Forest district is largely green belt and district is largely green belt and we are already under threat from speculative housing applications, farmland being sacrificed for solar farmland being sacrificed for solar plants and the Labour government arbitrarily reclassifying green belt as so-called grey belt. Will belt as so-called grey belt. Will the Secretary of State step in and reverse this awful planning policy

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decision, which is a complete affront to local democracy? Yes. Mr. Speaker, I do not intend to reverse the decision. I made the decision one of the his local authority is one of nine that have been designated for poor performance, just as the previous government designated local authorities when they fell below the required standards in terms of their planning processes.

15:33

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sadly, the recent closure of family run business sent from Dudley Black Star, Ghanaian product and Family Bargains hardware in Dudley is symptomatic of a wider trend of high street shopfronts closing. What steps is the Minister taking to speed up high street regeneration by bringing back empty shops into use? And will he come to visit Dudley Town High Street to visit Dudley Town High Street to see what else we can do?

15:34

Sonia Kumar MP (Dudley, Labour)

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Mr. for raising this very important issue? There are two things I'd like to point to. One is that we will later this year, bring forward a high street strategy backed by at least £150 million. And as I said earlier, we're pushing ahead with the High Streets rental auctions programme, which is already seeing empty shops being being brought back into use. back into use.

15:34

Nesil Caliskan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Barking, Labour)

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Carlisle Mr. Speaker. assessments to wriggle out of providing affordable homes for communities like mine in Westland? An agreement for 12 affordable houses to be developed, delivered in alleyway near Grange, over sands that's been torn up. The council that's been torn up. The council has no power to stop it. Will you help us? Will he help us?

15:34

Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)

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Minister. that developers should be able to use site by site viability assessments. The alternative, where viability challenges are acute is that we get no homes coming forward at all. But we've consulted through the recent consultation on the NPPF the recent consultation on the NPPF on standardised inputs to viability. As I said, we'll set out further steps in due course.

15:35

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Keir Mather thank you, Mr. Speaker.

15:35

Mr Bayo Alaba MP (Southend East and Rochford, Labour)

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Leaseholders at Southend's Meridian Port are trapped in an unbearable financial situation as a unbearable financial situation as a result of £3 million in Internal Defects bill and a 450 zero zero £0 fight against their building's developer. Their block is 80m in height and they are not entitled to funding the support that they desperately need, and have been offered just £50,000 towards their legal fees by Homes England. Will the Minister look at how we can look at existing funding criteria for mid-rise buildings and encourage Homes England to fully support leaseholders in taking on

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well resourced developers? Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Buildings between 11 and 18m are may be able to enter the cladding safety scheme, but I am happy to

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safety scheme, but I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this further. Julian Lewis how. Can.

15:36

Samantha Dixon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Chester North and Neston, Labour)

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>> Can. >> It be justified. For a unitary authority to be formed, which rips authority to be formed, which rips the waterside away from the New Forest and places it under the control of labour, dominated Southampton when the building blocks of the new unitary authorities were stated by the authorities were stated by the government to be the existing areas covered by district and borough councils.

15:36

Rt Hon Sir Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East, Conservative)

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Minister. Secretary of State took the decisions about local government reorganisation according to the criteria we set out. I hear the hon. Gentleman's comments and will take those into account as we move forward. forward.

15:36

Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Birkenhead, Labour)

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Sean Woodcock very much, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the Minister for the decision that he's taken today with regards to continued and ongoing failings by Sherwood District Council with regards to major planning applications? However, given that Banbury has a. A really huge and very desperate housing need. Would the Minister housing need. Would the Minister agree to meet with me in order to discuss how we can fix that? Despite the Council. Despite the Council.

15:37

Sean Woodcock MP (Banbury, Labour)

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I'm more than happy to meet with my hon. Friend to discuss the housing challenges in his particular part of the country.

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Josh Babarinde. I'm leading the campaign. In Eastbourne. To register a Eastbourne pier as

15:37

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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>> To register a Eastbourne pier as an asset of community value to safeguard its future. Will the

15:37

Josh Babarinde MP (Eastbourne, Liberal Democrat)

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government back this campaign to ensure that Eastbourne Pier continues to stand strong. >> For this?

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Having served as a council leader, I know just how important community assets are and I'm very happy to meet the

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are and I'm very happy to meet the right hon. Member to further discuss the issue. Peter Swallow thank. You, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend will know how enthusiastic I am for a Thames Valley Foundation strategic authority covering Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon. But he'll also know my concerns about an SDS being imposed on us on a different, being imposed on us on a different, larger geography. Does he share my concerns that this would undermine devolution before it even started?

15:38

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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Minister. matter. There are a range of views about the right geographies for spatial development strategies. The Minister for Devolution and Communities and I are looking at all the responses we've received to the consultation and make decisions fed. fed.

15:38

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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In Damian Hinds. Friend, will the Secretary of State take the opportunity of the new NPPF to make absolutely clear that if you wilfully ignore, not inadvertently but deliberately and wilfully ignore the need for planning consent, you will not then planning consent, you will not then subsequently be able to get retrospective permission.

15:38

Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP (East Hampshire, Conservative)

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OK. out Mr Speaker retrospective planning applications of any kind. I think residents across the country putting in conservatories and then applying in instances where they forgot to submit the paperwork would take issue with that I have had. There is a specific issue about intentional unauthorised development. We're looking at it through the NPPF. I looking at it through the NPPF. I recently had a group meeting with a large group of members across the house, including members of the front bench, where we discussed the front bench, where we discussed the possible options we can look to bear down on the practices we're seeing, which is a new business model that exploits a particular model that exploits a particular set of challenges.

15:39

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Well. for Pride in Place and Redditch. Would the Minister join me in thanking all those that put their name forward and also encourage all residents in Greenlands and Woodrow to take part in the scheme, which will see the largest single will see the largest single financial investment in my town in my entire lifetime.

15:39

Chris Bloore MP (Redditch, Labour)

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Minister. join the right hon. Member in recognising the significant investment for his area? The Pride in Place programme rolled out by the government is our commitment to devolution and investing in areas that have for far too long been ignored.

15:39

Nesil Caliskan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Barking, Labour)

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Final question. review the 2500 square metre threshold for edge of town centre and out of town centre planning applications to conduct an impact on the high street assessment, particularly through the lens of supermarkets. Setting up things supermarkets. Setting up things like key cutting and shoe repair kiosks to decimate our high streets, as has happened in Princes Risborough recently. Risborough recently.

15:40

Greg Smith MP (Mid Buckinghamshire, Conservative)

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If the hon. Gentleman wants to write to me with further details about the matter, I will of course consider it.

15:40

Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)

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Changeover. To the Urgent Question Leader of the Opposition. Kemi Badenoch. Yes.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To ask the Secretary. Of State for defence if he will

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Of State for defence if he will make a statement on the effect of the delay of the Defence Investment Plan on our Armed Forces ability to

15:40

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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Plan on our Armed Forces ability to defend the United Kingdom? >> Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Before I turn to the matter before us, the whole House will want to join me in recognising the remarkable work of our armed forces. remarkable work of our armed forces. This weekend in the channel, UK forces boarded a sanctioned vessel from Russia's shadow fleet to disrupt the flow of funds to Putins

15:41

Luke Pollard MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Labour )

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illegal war in Ukraine. The Defence Secretary will be making a statement on that shortly. Mr. speaker, these are extraordinary speaker, these are extraordinary times for defence. The threats are real and they are increasing. Its no secret that I worked in lockstep no secret that I worked in lockstep with the former defence secretary. He is a friend and mentor. I was his deputy and I am still standing his deputy and I am still standing here because he asked me to stay and because we need continuity in this complex and difficult operational environment.

The dip operational environment. The dip will be published before the NATO summit. Do we need to increase more on. Do we need to spend more on defence? Yes. Does the Prime Minister and the Chancellor agree? Yes. Are we spending more? Yes. This year's defence Budget is £11 billion more than the final year under the Conservatives. Are we learning the lessons from Ukraine? Yes. Are we retiring old Kit to invest in new capabilities? Yes. Are we backing our people? Yes. The biggest pay rise in 20 years and £9 billion plan to fix the defence housing crisis we inherited.

And its working intake is up 11.6%. Outflow down 8.9% and morale is up. And to answer her question directly, if asked to fight tonight, could our forces defend the UK? Yes. And they already do. Every single day. Are we planning to increase their capabilities to deter and defend the UK and our allies? Yes we are. Would I like to go further? Of course. The new Defence Secretary has stepped up to serve, as he has done before, sleeves rolled up and determined to meet the moment to get defence the best deal.

And let me say plainly, I know the PM is committed to do so as well, he said in Munich. To meet the wider threat, it is clear that we are going to have to spend more, faster and at the weekend, he said 3% in the next Parliament defence will be the number one priority at every spending review, including the next spending review. The disagreement in recent weeks was never about whether we should fund our forces. It's about how fast we increase the spending for defence and on what capabilities, and that's a serious argument to have.

And I make no apology for pushing hard within the government to win it. That is the job. But the job is also a team sport, and that is why the MoD, with the new Defence Secretary, is working with the Treasury and other government departments and number ten to get this right.

15:43

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)

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Kemi Badenoch yes. that a junior Minister has been sent to answer this question today. If the new Defence Secretary is too If the new Defence Secretary is too scared to face tough questions at the despatch box, waiting for an easier statement later, then I don't have much confidence in him facing down the threat from Russia. It has been two years since Labour paused the Conservatives plan to fund our armed forces, a year since their strategic defence review, a year since their strategic defence review.

We have been warning that the delays to the Defence Investment Plan.

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Maldon people have gone to the front bench. Don't bring the backbench habits to the frontbench, please.

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please. Kemi Badenoch thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been warning that the delays to the Defence the delays to the Defence Investment Plan were making our troops and our country less safe. troops and our country less safe. Last week, the Defence Secretary and the Minister for the Armed Forces quit the government because Forces quit the government because they know those warnings were true and they were no longer willing to defend the indefensible. They have done the honourable thing by resigning.

It could not have been easy for the former defence secretary, a Labour man, through and through, when he said, and I quote, I am being forced to make decisions that would increase the risk to personnel on operations and could make the country less safe. That is absolutely shocking. What on earth is the government playing at? The statement that the Minister has just given shows that the government are still in denial? He did not say that there would be extra money for the Defence Investment Plan as his former mentor, so he says, asked for the Prime Minister needs to tell the Chancellor to find the money.

The answer is to cut the welfare Budget and I am. I am willing to lend the government 116 votes to do just that, because I know they won't do it. On the proviso that the Defence Investment Plan meets three simple tests. First, the government must, at a minimum, find the £28 billion that the chief of the Defence Staff has said is needed. Will they. Second, that funding must be provided before 2030. Will it. There is no kicking into the long grass here, Mr.

Speaker, and if the answer to both questions is no, then this Minister should have resigned along with his colleagues. Third, that funding must ensure we are ready to fight the wars of the future, not the past. I am sure the Minister will now stand up and try and blame the situation on conservative governments, forgetting that these are new threats, not past threats. This government needs to stop wasting time and do what is necessary to keep the British people safe today.

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Yes. Minister. Can I thank the right hon. Lady

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Can I thank the right hon. Lady for her question and for the tone in which she asked it. We often have a lot of shouting from her

15:46

Luke Pollard MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Labour )

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front bench, but I appreciate the professionalism and calm that she asked those questions. Let me be very clear. >> The order. Order. I think

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The order. Order. I think there's two. I just want to spoil it. I'm sure they want Minister. Mr. speaker, let me be very

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Mr. speaker, let me be very clear. The Defence Secretary is currently with His Majesty the King and will be in the House this afternoon making a statement on the operational the operations over the weekend. I have to say, I recognise that she got her revenge in early by saying I will seek to blame it on the Conservatives. Let me be very clear. The right hon. Lady will know that we inherited forces that have been hollowed out and underfunded by the Conservatives, that we inherited defence housing, that we inherited defence housing where families were being asked to sleep in bedrooms with black mould, leaky roofs and broken boilers.

That 47 of 49 major defence programmes we inherited at the general election were over Budget and unfunded. However, we have also been very clear that we are increasing defence spending. I appreciate I appreciate that she had a pre-scripted questions, but if she listened to what I said at the start, she would know that we are increasing defence, spending an

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extra £11 billion odd. I think you've just proved the point. When you request an urgent point. When you request an urgent question and the questions being asked allow the Minister to ask without comment, without two of you without comment, without two of you either side chipping in. I don't need it. You don't want it. So I'm not being funny. This affects all

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our constituencies and our constituents. So please. Minister thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are increasing defence spending. We are increasing defence spending. The Budget this year is £11 billion more than the Budget in the last year of the conservative government. We are ending that hollowing out. But of course I want more money in the defence Budget. It is a case that we continue to make as the profile of defence spending increases. I welcome a debate that says, what capabilities will we spend that increasing defence funding on? And she is right when she says we need to fight the wars of tomorrow.

That's why we're investing in more autonomy. That's why we're investing in more drones, a hybrid navy and the increased stockpiles that we need to deter Russian aggression. There's more work to do, and the new defence secretary is working with the sleeves rolled up to deliver the best deal that we can. And we will publish the Defence Investment Plan ahead of the NATO summit.

15:48

Alex Baker MP (Aldershot, Labour)

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Alex Baker thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past 18 months, Speaker. For the past 18 months, I've been talking to the former Defence Secretary and Ministers across government as part of my campaign for the UK to co-found the defence, Security and Resilience Resilience Bank. As my right hon. Friend noted in his resignation letter, we need to find different ways to finance our defence industry and that should include standing with our allies and working internationally. Will the government now listen to calls from across the House to join this world Bank for defence as a matter of urgency, because we cannot afford for British defence industry to be locked out of this bank.

The charter will be signed at the NATO summit and the clock is ticking.

15:49

Luke Pollard MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Labour )

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Yes. work, not just on the lobbying for the DSB, but I know that as an MP for a military town, she is a real for a military town, she is a real champion, not just for the army, but also for local businesses in her patch. We're working to look at what are the multinational mechanisms that would best deliver for defence and importantly, also for the defence supply chain to make sure that there is the ability to finance the growth that we expect in defence supply chain.

That work is continuing, but I'd encourage her to continue having conversations with the Treasury who lead on that aspect.

15:49

James MacCleary MP (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

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James MacCleary, the Liberal >> James MacCleary, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> We are now nine. >> Months overdue a defence investment plan. I hear almost investment plan. I hear almost daily from defence SMEs who are facing a funding precipice. Many are warning that without certainty are warning that without certainty from government, they'll be unable to invest higher or even in some cases, continue to operate at all. So will the Minister tell this House what assessment has been made of the financial impact on the UK defence industry? Of the continued delay to the Defence Investment Plan, the government's own national security adviser has said that an extra £18 billion, at a minimum, is needed for our armed forces, and it's likely a lot more than that.

So given his former colleagues decisions to resign on a matter of principle over government's failure to defend, fight to fund defence properly, will the Minister himself resign if he fails to secure at least that minimum allocation? And in the spirit of constructive opposition, may I suggest a way for him to avoid that fate entirely? Will he consider backing Lib Dem defence bonds, which would raise 20 billion over two years, and give our armed forces the immediate injection of funding that they need for certainty?

15:50

Luke Pollard MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Labour )

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Minister. >> Minister. >> What can I thank him for his his questions? He will know that we've signed 1400 major defence contracts signed 1400 major defence contracts since the general election that has supported thousands of SMEs. He will also know that we've stood up the Defence Office for Small Business Growth, a single doorway to increase the direct spend with SMEs by the Ministry of Defence by 50% by 2028. We will continue to work on that and as a defence focussed MP before I was a shadow defence Minister, let alone a defence Minister, I'm proud that the advocacy that I have made for Devonport, for Plymouth, for our armed forces, I will continue to make that case from within government to give our forces the funding they need, the increasing defence spending that we need, that the government has already set out an ambition to deliver.

I'll continue to make the case for that.

15:51

Alan Gemmell MP (Central Ayrshire, Labour)

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Alan Campbell thank you. >> Mr. Speaker. >> My hon. Friend may know that the British Aerospace company, seeking to develop a replacement for the to develop a replacement for the Red arrows has gone into administration, and the company is, in part blaming the delays to the in part blaming the delays to the Defence investment plan for this terrible outcome. Can I thank my hon. Friend for the time he's taken with me? Looking for opportunities to invest defence spend in my constituency, but can he do more to ensure that the Defence Investment plan brings good quality jobs right across this country? Yes, Minister.

15:52

Luke Pollard MP, The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Labour )

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Can I thank him for his his >> Can I thank him for his his question? We've discussed a rallies together. We are committed to the Red arrows. There will be a Red arrows. There will be a competition to replace the Red arrows, but also the Hawk T1, T2 training system that we have today that provides the pilots of the future, that will be a competitive process, and it will be up to companies to provide a design, an option and a training system to support that.

And that competition will launch in due course.

15:52

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)

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Bar of the House. Edward Leigh. >> When the nation is at risk and that if the opposition asks a question, it's frankly cowardly for the Secretary of State not to turn the Secretary of State not to turn up. His duty is to be here in our House of Commons. I just say to the Father of the House, the king has summoned him, and he is with the king at the moment. And I think about the language that he's about being cowardly. I think it's not called for and expect better from the father house.

I'm sure the King would have understood, but we'll

15:53

Mr Speaker

leave it like that. Can I just ask the Secretary of State this? He

15:53

Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)

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the Secretary of State this? He constantly blames the previous conservative government. But the fact is that times have changed. Let's look at history. When we're in the same situation, the 1930s, in the same situation, the 1930s, we're only spending 2.5% in 1935 on defence, and then we increase it to defence, and then we increase it to 9%. The whole nation came together. The Leader of the Opposition has given him a deal. We will combine with him to slash the totally huge welfare Budget.

We will help them

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