Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Liz Twist

Monday 12th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Pennycook]

Our new social and affordable homes programme does provide additional flexibility for certain tenures of housing that are more difficult and costly to provide, including rural housing. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will also welcome the changes in the draft NPPF, which, as I have said, is out for consultation, because they will further strengthen the provision of rural and affordable housing. We want to see much more of it than we are seeing at present.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

6. What steps he is taking to build more social and affordable homes in Blaydon and Consett constituency.

[The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)]

In July last year we set out a detailed five-step plan to deliver a decade of renewal in social and affordable housing. The plan includes the biggest boost to grant funding in a generation, the establishment of an effective and stable regulatory regime, and action to rebuild the sector’s capacity to borrow and invest in new and existing homes. All that—alongside investment in existing stock—will help to ensure that councils and housing associations throughout the north-east can deliver more homes.

[Liz Twist]

I am glad to see the Government focusing so much on building social housing, including some in my constituency, but it will also be important to maintain the stock once it has been built and to look at existing stock. Can the Minister say when the issue of rent convergence will be resolved?

[Matthew Pennycook]

The Government remain committed to implementing social rent convergence to support additional investment in new and existing social housing. We will announce a decision on how it will be implemented later this month, before the launch of the social and affordable homes programme. That decision will take into account the benefits to the supply and quality of social and affordable housing, and the impact on rent payers and welfare spending.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Liz Twist

Monday 28th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)]

As the shadow Minister will know from our exchanges in the Renters’ Rights Bill Committee, the Government have absolutely no plans to introduce rent controls in any form.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

T9.   Consett, Blaydon and other towns across the north-east are keen to play their part in growing our local economies, and one of the things that growth comes from is making work pay. In the first 100 days of a Labour Government, the Secretary of State has delivered the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. Can she update the House on her work in supporting the new deal for working people?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Liz Twist

Monday 2nd September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Pennycook]

The Government have made it clear in that very consultation that we do not intend to change the general purpose or extent of the green belt. We are committed to making changes to ensure that we are releasing the right parts of the green belt to meet housing need. The hon. Lady is more than welcome to submit her own views as part of that consultation.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

Among the many people who are concerned about the safety of buildings—understandably, given recent events—are those who work or live in residential social care homes. Does today’s announcement include higher safety standards, including sprinkler systems in such homes?