Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Deirdre Costigan and Keir Starmer

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.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Deirdre Costigan and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 4th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I welcome the hon. Lady to her place. Reigate is obviously a place I know very well, as she knows. The reality is this: that decision has been taken because of the £22 billion black hole, so responsibility for the decision lies with the party that broke the economy. There is a reason we have a mandate for change, and a reason why Conservative Members are sitting on the Opposition Benches: it is because they broke the economy, and I am not going to apologise for clearing up the mess that they left.

[Deirdre Costigan (Ealing Southall) (Lab)]

Q11. After 14 years of Conservative failure, crime and street drinking blight areas of Southall town centre, West Ealing and Hanwell Broadway in my constituency. Will the Prime Minister set out how his Government will take action to ensure that our town centres are transformed into places where my constituents can finally feel safe again?

[The Prime Minister]

This is an important issue. I have heard too many people say that antisocial behaviour is some sort of low-level issue, but it really impacts lives across the country and we have to tackle it. That is why we will put more police on the streets, have more effective powers to deal with antisocial behaviour, and introduce Young Futures programmes to divert young people who are getting into trouble.