Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the fire and rehire proposals tabled by senior managers in Homes England; and if he will make a statement.

On 3 March the Secretary of State approved Homes England's pay remit for 2020/21. This was a valuable award towards the maximum level allowable across the Public Sector. I am therefore confident that it will allow for the Agency to implement a new pay and grading structure which is based on the principle of ensuring pay equality for its staff. Homes England are at the early stages of what I am sure will be successful negotiations, conducted through normal process with staff and unions. Officials have been asked to support these negotiations to ensure that options for implementation are properly explored and that due process and guidance is followed.