Oral Answers to Questions

Noah Law Excerpts

Monday 2nd September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Alex Baker (Aldershot) (Lab)]

4. What steps her Department is taking to help promote community cohesion.

[Noah Law (St Austell and Newquay) (Lab)]

7. What steps her Department is taking to help promote community cohesion.

[Jacob Collier (Burton and Uttoxeter) (Lab)]

11. What steps her Department is taking to help promote community cohesion.

--- Later in debate ---

[Angela Rayner]

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I was proud to serve alongside my good friend Jo Cox in this House, and her words about our common humanity and what unites us ring as true as ever. I have met many local communities, businesses and other groups affected by the acts of deplorable violence that we have seen across the country in recent weeks, including in places such as Stoke-on-Trent and Rotherham. I heard powerful stories from those who experienced appalling violence, but I also heard about how those communities came together to defend their streets and were united against hatred and thuggery. I know that my hon. Friend has been a leader in her own community, and we Ministers will support her and her constituents in the spirit that she has set out.

[Noah Law]

Our community cohesion in Cornwall is being undermined by the housing crisis, with many locals priced out or even facing homelessness. This matter requires urgent attention, and I am therefore pleased that this Government have placed building new homes at the top of our legislative agenda. Can the Deputy Prime Minister ensure that we are building the right kinds of homes in Cornwall—namely, social homes?

[Angela Rayner]

Absolutely, and my hon. Friend is right. We are strengthening housing targets and acting to ensure that local plans are ambitious enough to support this Government’s commitment to 1.5 million homes in this Parliament, including social homes. Under our new proposals, assessed housing need across Cornwall would increase by around 65%, demonstrating our commitment to approving the supply of new homes that his constituents desperately need.