Debates between Liam Byrne and Eddie Hughes during the 2017-2019 Parliament

Local Housing Allowance and Homelessness

Debate between Liam Byrne and Eddie Hughes
Wednesday 24th July 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Eddie Hughes Portrait Eddie Hughes
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It would not have been the Mayor’s first priority if it were not a substantial problem, as the hon. Gentleman rightly sets out. We all recognise that it is a substantial problem in the west midlands, but the Mayor is certainly putting all he can into tackling it. He is one man with limited powers, but often a Mayor’s power is a subtle one—the power to convene. One of the great things that he did was get a lot of housing associations across the region to work together to decide where they would be best placed to develop land, build new houses and so on, and engage them with the idea of tackling homelessness.

Eddie Hughes Portrait Eddie Hughes
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I give way, but I am running out of time.

Liam Byrne Portrait Liam Byrne
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I am grateful; I will be very brief. When the Mayor came to office, Her Majesty’s Government promised £211 million to build new homes. Parliamentary questions show that £209 million has not been paid out. Why has the Mayor not secured that cash in hand?

Eddie Hughes Portrait Eddie Hughes
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I am disappointed to say that I cannot speak on behalf of the Mayor, but I will keep my eye on my phone today, just in case I become the Housing Minister—in which case I will be in a position to answer the right hon. Gentleman’s question.

Liam Byrne Portrait Liam Byrne
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Good answer.

Eddie Hughes Portrait Eddie Hughes
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I completely accept the right hon. Gentleman’s case about the money that has been promised. He and I spoke at a recent event in Parliament with Midland Heart, and I completely back his case for ensuring that we secure that funding.