Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Afzal Khan and Dominic Raab

Monday 22nd January 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Housing (Dominic Raab)]

We have delivered 357,000 affordable homes since 2010—more than in the preceding seven years. That includes 257,000 for rent and 128,000 for social rent.

[Afzal Khan]

Will the Secretary of State adopt Labour’s plans to lift the borrowing cap on councils’ housing revenue accounts, which could alone build 80,000 council homes, according to the Local Government Association?

[Dominic Raab]

We are not going to take on Labour’s plans in this area or any other, because frankly they are not sustainable. We are going to increase the affordable homes budget to £9 billion up to 2021. We are restless to deliver more affordable homes, including for social rent. The hon. Gentleman may like to know that in the past year there were 1,100 new housing starts in Manchester, and we are talking to the Mayor of Manchester about the housing deal, which will include a social housing component.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Afzal Khan and Dominic Raab

Tuesday 5th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Afzal Khan (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)]

5. What steps his Department is taking in response to recent trends in the number of people who represent themselves in court.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Dominic Raab)]

The Government’s litigants in person support strategy provides a range of practical support and information to those without legal representation before the courts.

[Afzal Khan]

Senior judges are warning that the growing number of litigants in person is creating a huge burden on judges, lawyers and the litigants themselves. Will the Minister commit to restoring legal aid to the family courts, where this problem is most serious, as Labour has promised to do?

[Dominic Raab]

We have the LASPO review, which I have described. If I may, I will take this opportunity to point out that since 2015 we have invested £5 million in the litigant in person support strategy, which includes practical support such as: online and self-help resources, access to free or affordable legal advice, and, where possible, legal representation.