Housing: New Homes
Debate between Baroness Hanham and Lord Sheldon
Lord Sheldon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to build more homes in the south-east of England.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)
The Government do not set down Whitehall housing targets for the south-east of England or any other part of the country. It is for elected local councils to determine where development should and should not go, and how best to meet housing need through their local plans.
Lord Sheldon
I take notice of the points that the noble Baroness has put forward, but Britain has been building fewer homes in London. In 2011, 18,000 new homes were completed. More houses are needed and they have to be built to meet the requirements.
Baroness Hanham
My Lords, nobody will disagree that we need more housing. I have said that many times in this Chamber. Everybody knows that we have an underhousing situation in this country for our population. Therefore, there is great pressure from my department to ensure that housing targets are built up. However, it is for local authorities to decide where that housing goes and how much they need in their local area. A great number of houses are in the pipeline, due to be built.
Homelessness: Rough Sleepers in London
Debate between Baroness Hanham and Lord Sheldon
Lord Sheldon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to reduce the number of people sleeping on the streets of London.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)
My Lords, the Government are committed to tackling rough sleeping. We have provided £400 million over four years to prevent homelessness, including £34 million to the Greater London Authority to tackle rough sleeping across the capital. My department is also providing £5 million to London to set up a social impact bond to help 750 entrenched rough sleepers in London. The mayor’s No Second Night Out scheme has been particularly successful in helping new rough sleepers in London off the street quickly, and we are investing to roll out No Second Night Out nationally.
Lord Sheldon
My Lords, I have seen two sleepers in a local street in London and others are close by. There is a need to offer suitable beds so that people are not sleeping in streets in London.
Baroness Hanham
My Lords, the mayor’s No Second Night Out scheme is being very effective. There are more than 2,000 hostel places in London each night and there are teams out consistently during the night. We anticipate that 80% of those who sleep out one night do not sleep out the next night.
Population: United Kingdom
Debate between Baroness Hanham and Lord Sheldon
Lord Sheldon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the increase in the population of the United Kingdom since 1945; and how many square miles of countryside have been used for (a) housing, and (b) industrial development, since that date.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)
My Lords, since 1985, the population of England has increased by an estimated 5.2 million people. In the same period, around 170 square miles of countryside has been used for residential development and around 30 square miles for industrial development.
Lord Sheldon
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. However, since 1945, the population has increased by about a third and the weekly wage has increased from £3.90 to about £400. In recent times, in each year, nearly four square miles of undeveloped land has been built on for housing and industrial development. Should we not use more of our brownfield land for housing and industrial use?
Baroness Hanham
My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord will be aware that each Government have attempted to use brownfield sites and brownfield land before anywhere else. A great deal of brownfield land has already been developed. There is consideration as to whether that is better used for housing within central town areas or whether there is a better boost to growth if it is used for industry or commerce. By and large, brownfield land has for the past number of years been used primarily before anything else.
Statues
Debate between Baroness Hanham and Lord Sheldon
Lord Sheldon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers they have with regard to the siting of statues in central London.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)
My Lords, proposals to erect statues in central London require planning permission from the local planning authority. Under Section 5 of the Public Statues (Metropolis) Act 1854 the consent of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is also necessary. In practice, that consent is given automatically if planning permission has been granted, and the Government intend to repeal that provision of the Act as soon as suitable legislation is available.
Lord Sheldon
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that reply. In Westminster, there are more than 300 statues and monuments and half of them are listed because of special architectural or historic interest. Planning permission is obtained from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. There is an increasing number of statues, some of which have little interest. Should there not be a limited acceptance of such statues?
Baroness Hanham
My Lords, I am bound to say that they must have been of interest to somebody. Most statues are erected in the city by virtue of public subscription, when somebody has had a great idea about who should be honoured and who should not. The governance of whether a statue is allowed to be erected falls frankly within the remit of the local authority. If it is not satisfied that a statue is suitable either for the authority or in general, it would be able to refuse it. However, we have very many statues honouring a whole lot of people, and I guess that a lot of people in this House would not know half of them.
Homelessness
Debate between Baroness Hanham and Lord Sheldon
Lord Sheldon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in London; and what proposals they have to reduce the number.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)
The latest statistics show 415 rough sleepers in London on any one night: 23 per cent of the national total. The Government are committed to tackling rough sleeping and preventing homelessness. We have maintained the level of the homelessness grant, with £400 million for local authorities and the voluntary sector over the next four years. A cross-departmental ministerial working group has been set up to address the complex causes of homelessness and to improve support for homeless people.
Lord Sheldon
I thank the noble Baroness for that reply because there is some improvement there, which I look forward to seeing. Sleeping rough can be a dangerous experience. One estimate is that rough sleepers have an average life expectancy of 42 years, and that people who sleep rough are 35 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. It is difficult to get an accurate figure, because to protect themselves men and particularly women sleep in places where they might not easily be found. Is the noble Baroness aware that one estimate is that 3,600 people sleep rough in London at some point and that the London mayor was actually committed to ending rough sleeping by next year? What proposals are there for that claim to be put into practice?
Baroness Hanham
My Lords, I am aware of the seriousness of homelessness and of rough sleeping. That is why we are trying very hard to end the situation. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, a ministerial group is looking across the spectrum of Whitehall to see what needs to be done about homelessness to stop it completely. It hopes to report quite soon. I am sure the noble Lord knows that the mayor is also taking forward an initiative to try to ensure that people are not sleeping on the street for more than one night. The whole issue of criminal activity and attacks on people rough sleeping will come into the care that they will be given when they are being looked after.