Roma Community: Levelling Up

Debate between Baroness Bakewell and Lord Greenhalgh

Monday 27th June 2022 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Bakewell]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how their levelling up plans take into account the needs of the Roma community.

[The Minister of State, Home Office and Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (Lord Greenhalgh) (Con)]

The Government have set out 12 national levelling-up missions which are already beginning to drive real change across the United Kingdom, including for our Roma communities. They include investing £1.4 million in targeted educational support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children. We will continue to work across government to tackle inequalities.

[Baroness Bakewell (Lab)]

I am aware of the Government’s plans to deal with the Roma community, but two weeks ago the submissions from local government closed. What guarantee is there that the funding going via local authorities will be ring-fenced for the Roma community and that it will not bring them into conflict with the new extended police power to move people on?

[Lord Greenhalgh (Con)]

It is for local authorities to work on their own local housing need. While tackling unauthorised encampments, we have recognised the need also to provide more opportunities for stopping sites. That is why we have invested £10 million in enabling both more permanent and temporary provision for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Housebuilding

Debate between Baroness Bakewell and Lord Greenhalgh

Tuesday 26th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Greenhalgh (Con)]

My Lords, there is a great deal of sense in that question. I would point out that the proposals to revise the National Planning Policy Framework make it clear that sites for substantial development should seek to include a variety of development types from different builders.

[Baroness Bakewell (Lab) (V)]

My Lords, many charitable housing providers such as almshouses—for which I am an ambassador—are very small and are not included with regulated social housing providers, so will the Government review Section 106 of the planning guidance to extend its benefits and allow almshouses and other charitable providers to extend their housing provision?

[Lord Greenhalgh (Con)]

The use of Section 106 is a very important driver of the delivery of affordable housing. Perhaps I might take that point away and respond in writing.