Oral Answers to Questions

Deirdre Costigan Excerpts

Wednesday 29th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the issue. His constituents will be angry and frustrated at the empty, unfunded promises left by the Conservatives. Let us be clear, under their non-plan, North Devon district hospital would simply not have been delivered—it was not just delayed; it was never going to be delivered. Conservative Members know that, the hon. Gentleman knows that and his constituents know that. We have put in place a funded, deliverable plan that will see the hospital built, and we will work closely with the trust to accelerate work. The Conservative party owes his constituents an apology.

[Deirdre Costigan (Ealing Southall) (Lab)]

Q6. Children in Ealing Southall will be sleeping on sofas and living room floors tonight because of 14 years of failure by the Conservatives. Ealing council has joined over 100 councils that are trying to remove the barriers and give those kids a decent home to live in—something Conservative Members do not seem to care about. As part of the Government’s plan for change, will the Prime Minister look at the five solutions put forward by those councils, so that we can secure the future of council housing for those children sleeping on the floor tonight?

[The Prime Minister]

My hon. Friend is right to raise that very serious issue. We are committed to working with every council to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation. We are immediately taking action to reform the right to buy and to enable councils to borrow more cheaply, and investing in the affordable homes programme.