Economic Update Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: HM Treasury
Tuesday 17th March 2020

(4 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My right hon. Friend has written about the importance of employment support, and I look forward to getting his thoughts on those measures.

Karen Buck Portrait Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

Half of my constituents rent privately—that is the highest proportion in the country. A quarter of all Londoners rent privately, and 13 million people across the country rent privately, with a third having no savings whatsoever. Will the Chancellor assure me that when we have the statement from the Housing Minister, there will, in addition to any legislative change to protect renters, be money on the table to help people on low incomes and in insecure employment to pay their rent, so that this crisis does not mean that they also get into debt and risk losing their homes?

Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

We very much recognise that rent is a significant portion of most household bills, which is why the Housing Secretary will shortly be outlining measures in this regard.