Oral Answers to Questions

Jason McCartney Excerpts

Monday 10th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Maggie Throup (Erewash) (Con)]

14. What steps his Department is taking to support house building.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

15. What steps his Department is taking to support house building.

[Kate Kniveton (Burton) (Con)]

16. What steps his Department is taking to support house building.

--- Later in debate ---

[Rachel Maclean]

I am of course concerned to hear about the situation that my hon. Friend highlights, and I would be pleased to discuss it with her in more detail, if that would be helpful. More generally, we are introducing a range of measures to increase transparency about build-out, to ensure that when development proposals are brought forward, the development actually gets built.

[Jason McCartney]

Labour-run Kirklees Council is taking in millions of pounds from housing developers through the section 106 levy, but local people are losing confidence in the system, as they just do not see the money being spent on local schools, local roads or local health services. Does the Minister agree that developer contributions, which are given to improve local infrastructure that is affected by major housing developments, should be spent on just that?

[Rachel Maclean]

My hon. Friend highlights a most unsatisfactory state of affairs from Labour-run Kirklees Council. We are introducing a new infrastructure levy that will bring much-needed transparency. Local authorities, including Kirklees, should be spending that precious money on the infrastructure needed for local people.