Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Hanson of Flint Excerpts

Monday 12th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

The hon. Lady rightly emphasises the point about learning from each other. Where Scotland has had success on homelessness and rough sleeping, we shall certainly look into that, and we will seek other examples in the UK. My hon. Friend the Housing Minister is visiting Scotland later this week and will be looking at that particular issue.

[David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for homeowners in meeting mortgage costs.

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Sajid Javid)]

One of the best ways in which the Government can support homeowners with their mortgage costs is by ensuring that the economy remains strong and competitive so that employment is high and interest rates are as low as possible.

[David Hanson]

At the end of this month, the Government are taking away mortgage support from 110,000 people, and only 7,000 so far have applied for the loan that replaces that scheme. What do the Government think that the other 103,000 people are going to do on 2 April?

[Sajid Javid]

I think that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the support for mortgage interest policy, on which the DWP leads. The Government are right to strike the right balance between the needs of hard-pressed homeowners and the taxpayer. If he is really interested in helping homeowners, perhaps he can explain to his constituents why he voted against the stamp duty cut that this Government implemented.