Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mike Tapp and Angela Rayner

Monday 28th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Angela Rayner)]

This Government are committed to delivering 1.5 million quality homes over this Parliament. Under the Tories, house building plummeted as they bowed to pressure from their Back Benchers to scrap local housing targets. We are taking bold action to reform our planning system, deliver a new generation of new towns and unblock stalled housing sites.

[Mike Tapp]

I recently met members of Dover district council, who told me that they are keen to help the Government where they can to deliver our ambitious housing targets. Around the edge of Dover High Street we often see consistently empty units. What can the Government do to help us turn those into the housing that our community so badly needs, and will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can help?

[Angela Rayner]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Compulsory purchase orders can be used by local authorities to acquire empty properties where the authority can demonstrate that the acquisition would be in the public interest. I am also aware that there is a problem with homes built under section 106 agreements being left empty. The Government will continue to work with house builders, local authorities and affordable housing providers to tackle the problems. I am sure that the Housing Minister will be happy to meet him.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mike Tapp and Angela Rayner

Wednesday 23rd October 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Member for her very important question. I am sorry to hear about what Charlie and many other children with special educational needs have gone through. We inherited a really dire situation and many Members across the House have raised this issue. I am sure the Chancellor has heard what she has said about the upcoming Budget.

[Mike Tapp (Dover and Deal) (Lab)]

Q12. This morning we woke to more tragic news of deaths in the channel, something we are hearing far too often. Just last month, we saw the death of a pregnant woman and children—children, Mr Speaker. What are the Government doing to take on the evil smuggling gangs who are trading in human misery?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I thank my hon. Friend and welcome him, and his expertise in the National Crime Agency, to this place. He knows that we inherited an asylum system in chaos. As he rightly says, these are people—women and children. We are putting in place a credible plan to protect our borders and remove those with no right to be here by setting up our border security command, backed by £75 million of investment. We are working with our international partners to target and disrupt the criminal smuggling gangs.