Windrush Scheme Debate

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Department: Home Office

Windrush Scheme

Meg Hillier Excerpts
Tuesday 5th February 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend is correct. It would be breaking the law, and it would mean that we were not putting the safety of our people first.

Meg Hillier Portrait Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)
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In compelling evidence given to the Public Accounts Committee, we heard how difficult it was for Windrush victims to obtain housing. The Home Secretary listed the people whom he was helping, but the fact is that local authorities will need to allocate that housing, and given the squeeze that they are experiencing and the current housing demand, that is just not happening. Will he think again about what central Government can do to ensure that these people are not in the general housing queue, and that local authorities do not have to provide them with much-needed homes?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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The hon. Lady makes an important point. As I said at the start, some people may have lost housing or been affected in other ways in their housing, and they are being helped. We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which is speaking to local authorities. Where possible, we are trying to prioritise those cases.