Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Munira Wilson and Alison McGovern

Monday 12th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)]

T2. The Secretary of State will be aware that the so-called fair funding settlement will leave my council of Richmond upon Thames some £29 million worse off over the next three years. It will leave our most vulnerable residents, including children with complex needs and elderly people, facing cuts in critical services, even if the council raises council tax by 5%. Will he extend the transitional period?

[The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)]

I have heard what the hon. Member has said, and will take it as a contribution to the consultation that we are having. She mentions the needs of children; she will have heard me say to colleagues that we have to change the way that we work on this issue. I will happily work with her to ensure that we cut the costs and get better outcomes for our kids.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Munira Wilson and Alison McGovern

Monday 24th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

The homelessness strategy will be published soon, so the hon. Lady does not have long to wait. She characterises the situation well. We can fund sticking plasters and we can fund help, but in the end we have to get to the heart of the matter: No. 1—build homes; No. 2—make sure that families have enough money coming in to pay the rent. That will be at the heart of our strategy.

[Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)]

With London councils now spending £5.5 million per day on temporary accommodation, it is clear that we need to build more social homes in London. Richmond council has been prioritising sites that it is selling for social housing. As the Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch (Dame Meg Hillier) has just suggested, will the Minister look at incentives for other public bodies—whether it is the NHS or Government Departments—to prioritise for social homes land and buildings that they no longer need and are selling, as I have been campaigning for with respect to the former Teddington police station in my constituency?

[Alison McGovern]

I refer the hon. Lady, who asks a very reasonable question, to the response I gave some moments ago. Collectively, we must leave no stone unturned when it comes to available land for housing, particularly in the capital, where we desperately need more social and affordable homes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Munira Wilson and Alison McGovern

Monday 11th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

I thank the Minister for his question—[Interruption.] Honestly, I am still getting used to being on this side of the House.

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that jobcentres everywhere need to be locally responsive to employers, and that we need to provide an excellent service to local employers. If he has further thoughts on how we can make that work in his constituency, I would be very happy to discuss it with him.

[Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)]

9. What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of removing the two-child limit for universal credit.