Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Danczuk Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)]

6. What assessment he has made of the effect of poverty on increases in the number of people living in temporary accommodation since 2010.

[Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab)]

14. What estimate he has made of the change in the number of people requiring temporary accommodation since 2010.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Disabled People (Justin Tomlinson)]

As hon. Members will be aware, the administration of temporary accommodation is a matter for local authorities, but I hope they will agree that the best route out of poverty is to support people into employment, and I am proud that we have achieved an employment rate of 73.6%, the highest since records began in 1971.

--- Later in debate ---

[Justin Tomlinson]

We are making available £800 million for discretionary housing payments over this Parliament, which is an increase of 40%. The key is that it is discretionary for each local authority. In addition, to recognise the additional costs within London, £60 per household is provided per week to the local authority.

[Simon Danczuk]

Petrus Community, a homeless charity in Rochdale has told me that there has been a significant increase in the number of people requiring temporary accommodation. The figures show that it has nearly doubled over the last five years of this Government. The charity blames these results on the bedroom tax, benefit sanctions, and employment and support allowance claimants being wrongly declared fit for work. What will the Government do about the situation in Rochdale?

[Justin Tomlinson]

The key is providing more houses. A further 800,000 new homes have been built since 2009, housing starts are at their highest level since 2007, and a further 275,000 affordable houses will be built during this Parliament. Through the new homes bonus, we are offering additional incentives to build further affordable houses.