Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has responsibilities for ensuring that homes and buildings are healthy places for their occupants; and if he will make a statement.

A high-quality, safe, and suitable home can help people stay independent and healthy for longer, whilst reducing health and social care costs.

The Department funds the Disabled Facilities Grant to support older and disabled people on low-incomes to adapt their homes to make them suitable for their needs. It was recently announced that funding for 2020-21 will be maintained at £505 million.

We also provide funding to build specialised housing - through the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund, with up to £76 million available in 2019-20.

With reference to new mainstream housing, the Home of 2030 is a cross-government initiative between Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department of Health and Social Care to bring forward the design and delivery of high-quality homes which are energy efficient, inclusively designed, and suitable for all generations. The design and delivery competition launched in March 2020.