Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Lord Barwell

Monday 24th April 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

17. What recent representations he has received on amending park homes legislation.

[The Minister for Housing and Planning (Gavin Barwell)]

In the past year, we have received representations from park home residents as well as members of the all-party parliamentary group. Our call for evidence reviewing the legislation was published on 12 April, and addressed key concerns, including charges, site management and harassment.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Will the Minister remove the temptation that prompts those park owners who have neither the social nor managerial skills to make a success of it to maximise sales revenue commission by bullying residents to secure a higher turnover of residents?

[Gavin Barwell]

Bullying and harassment are not acceptable in any form, which is why we introduced the Mobile Homes Act 2013, which gives local authorities greater power. We shall obviously listen to the response to the call for evidence to see whether further action is required to stop the kind of behaviour that my right hon. Friend described.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

T7. The housing White Paper has greater expectations of local authorities. How is the Minister going to keep them building?

[Gavin Barwell]

Local authorities have a number of key roles: first, to produce a local plan that is based on an honest assessment of the level of need; and secondly, then to deliver that plan—the new housing delivery test is key in that regard. Thirdly, looking back when we did build enough homes in this country, local authorities played a crucial role in building themselves. We want to support local authorities in doing that, either through the housing revenue account or through the local housing company model that the hon. Member for Sheffield Central (Paul Blomfield) referred to.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Lord Barwell

Monday 16th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Will the housing White Paper envisage a greater role for the public sector?

[Gavin Barwell]

I can reassure my right hon. Friend that this Government want to see everybody get involved in building more homes, so if he is referring to local councils and their role, then absolutely: the more people who can get involved in building the homes we need, the better.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Lord Barwell

Monday 24th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

T10. What is my hon. Friend doing to help small builders?

[Gavin Barwell]

We are doing a number of things. At the party conference, we announced the home building fund, which will provide home builders with the finance that they often cannot secure commercially. We are also looking into planning policy to ensure that we release the vital small sites that small builders can take on.