All 1 Debates between Julian Knight and Lord Barwell

Wed 14th Dec 2016

Homelessness

Debate between Julian Knight and Lord Barwell
Wednesday 14th December 2016

(8 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Barwell Portrait Gavin Barwell
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I am the Housing Minister, so of course I accept responsibility. I think I speak for the Secretary of State as well: we were both appointed to these positions by the Prime Minister in July, and our focus is on solving the housing problems that this country faces, which I think are deep-seated. The truth is that we have not been building enough homes in this country for 30 or 40 years, under Governments of both colours, and that is the fundamental driver of the housing problems that we now experience.

Julian Knight Portrait Julian Knight (Solihull) (Con)
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My hon. Friend mentioned the Homelessness Reduction Bill that is passing through the House. I wonder whether he believes, as I do, that the most important thing about that is the fact that it mandates councils to provide 56 days of support to homeless individuals—for the first time, a really intense programme, to ensure that instead of no second night sleeping out, there is no first night sleeping out?

Lord Barwell Portrait Gavin Barwell
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The Bill that my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East has introduced does two fundamental things. First, it broadens the safety net and ensures that single people do not fall through the gaps. Secondly, as my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Julian Knight) says, it encourages councils to intervene upstream to try to prevent homelessness.

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Lord Barwell Portrait Gavin Barwell
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I will give way one more time, and I must then draw my remarks to a close.

Julian Knight Portrait Julian Knight
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rose

Lord Barwell Portrait Gavin Barwell
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My hon. Friend has already intervened, so I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter).