Oral Answers to Questions

Jess Phillips Excerpts

Monday 17th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)]

13. What plans his Department has to help ensure long-term, sustainable and predictable funding for the supported housing sector.

[Jess Phillips (Birmingham, Yardley) (Lab)]

19. What progress his Department is making on its proposal for a new supported accommodation funding model.

[Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab)]

25. What plans his Department has to help ensure long-term, sustainable and predictable funding for the supported housing sector.

--- Later in debate ---

[Caroline Nokes]

Local authorities are absolutely best placed to make decisions on supporting vulnerable people in their own areas and commissioning supported services that are needed locally, which is why I would be very happy to meet the hon. Lady to discuss the specific issues she raises. It is important that we work to establish the best funding model for supported housing.

[Jess Phillips]

First, I very much welcome the Government’s announcement to exempt specialist providers such as women’s refuges from changes to housing benefit. I know that the Government have a plan to help refuges and women’s refuges remain sustainable in the future, so I would like to hear what they plan to do for all other sorts of supported living accommodation for elderly people, people with learning difficulties and some of our ex-servicemen and women who, as I heard on the radio today, are having their services shut.

[Caroline Nokes]

I commend the hon. Lady for the sterling work she has done on refuges. What we know is that there is a massive variety of types of providers of supported housing, and it is critical that in the consultation process we find a solution that works for all of them.