Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Huw Merriman

Monday 27th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Eddie Hughes]

The hon. Lady highlights an equally important point about the quality of the social homes we have. I hope she will welcome the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill already making its way through the other place, which is intended to reduce the number of non-decent homes by 50% by 2030. We are doing that not just in the social rented sector, but in the private rented sector.

[Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

I welcome more social housing, but in the rural parishes of east Sussex the housing provider Optivo is selling off stock to the private market, citing the cost of meeting rental requirements. I have tried to reason with Optivo and suggest that it only do so where it or other social housing providers are building more housing in the same parish. Can I meet the Minister to discuss that and to discuss accountability of social housing organisations?

[Eddie Hughes]

My hon. Friend makes an important point about the accountability of housing associations. It is our drive, through the Government’s work and the new Bill, to ensure that that accountability is increased. I am assured that the Housing Minister will meet my hon. Friend to discuss the issue with Optivo.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Huw Merriman

Monday 7th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

6. What recent steps the Government have taken to help young people into employment.

[Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

15. What recent steps the Government have taken to help young people into employment.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mims Davies)]

This Government are committed to providing targeted support for all our young people, to give them the best chance of getting into work. That includes the youth obligation support programme, Jobcentre Plus support for schools, and the recently introduced mentoring circles.