Local Government Finance

Debate between Alison McGovern and Sarah Dyke

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

My hon. Friend is not just a former deputy leader of Milton Keynes city council; she has become a fantastic champion of that great city since coming to this House. If she wants to meet to talk about fast-growing cities and building homes, I will be there all day.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

One fifth of the UK population live in rural areas. They face unavoidable additional costs, including longer travel times, reduced provider competition and workforce recruitment. Those costs have an impact on every single aspect of local service delivery, but funding formulas fail to adequately recognise rurality, putting additional pressure on the vital services that residents in Glastonbury and Somerton rely on. Does the Minister accept that additional cost pressures are linked to geography and sparsity, and will she outline what steps are being taken to support large rural councils such as Somerset to manage these funding gaps?

[Alison McGovern]

The hon. Lady asked if I recognise that issue, and I have already said several times that I do, as well as setting out some of the steps that we are taking to address it. As I said, I will happily work with hon. Members on both sides of the House to take local authorities, wherever they are, on a journey towards sustainability.

National Plan to End Homelessness

Debate between Alison McGovern and Sarah Dyke

Thursday 11th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question, which is a really important one. She will know that the Department for Education is introducing the unique identifier, which is at the core of the data we need to track this properly. On an ambition for the number of days lost, in an ideal world it would be zero. We need to get the work with the DfE under way and plot a course through the action plan over the coming weeks and months to get the numbers reduced significantly.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

Glastonbury has the highest density of van dwellers in the UK, with around 300 people living in caravans. While some do choose this as a way of life, many are vulnerable or simply cannot afford to pay rent. They deserve a proper roof over their heads, as many of these caravans are simply not fit for accommodation. What considerations has the Minister made in this strategy to support those being exploited by unscrupulous van lords in this unregulated market? Will she meet me to discuss this ongoing crisis?

[Alison McGovern]

I thank the hon. Lady for her input into the strategy on behalf of her constituents. I would be happy to arrange a meeting.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison McGovern and Sarah Dyke

Monday 24th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

My hon. Friend is an expert in these matters. She knows that the Secretary of State has taken recent steps to make sure that we do build homes, including social and affordable homes, in London. We will certainly work very closely with her, and with the information she mentions, to get homes built.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

There are nearly 300 households in temporary accommodation in Somerset, and 120 of them include children. Somerset is spending nearly £3.4 million per year on additional temporary accommodation to help to meet that demand, but it is clear that a long-term solution must be supported. What steps is the Minister taking to increase the number of affordable homes to help address that situation?

[Alison McGovern]

The homelessness strategy will be published soon, so the hon. Lady does not have long to wait. She characterises the situation well. We can fund sticking plasters and we can fund help, but in the end we have to get to the heart of the matter: No. 1—build homes; No. 2—make sure that families have enough money coming in to pay the rent. That will be at the heart of our strategy.