Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Gill Furniss

Monday 12th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Gill Furniss (Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough) (Lab)]

T5.   Every two hours, someone in the UK is paralysed as a result of a spinal cord injury. After treatment, there is a 20% chance of being sent to a care home due to a lack of suitable available housing. I cannot imagine how a young person feels when they are coping with one of the most traumatic moments of their life, and are literally left lying by themselves. That is unacceptable. Will the Minister meet me and the all-party parliamentary group on spinal cord injury to discuss the serious lack of suitable housing?

[Matthew Pennycook]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. We have made proposals in the draft NPPF, which is out for consultation, to set new, higher requirements for authorities to deliver more accessible housing. This includes proposals to make meeting accessibility standards mandatory for 40% of new builds, and to ensure that local plans provide for wheelchair-accessible homes. I am more than happy to have another conversation with my hon. Friend on this issue.