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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on their housebuilding programme of the announcement by the Federation of Master Builders that two-thirds of SME construction companies in London are struggling to hire bricklayers and carpenters.

We need an industry that has the right skills to build more homes, including in new and innovative ways. Industry needs to take responsibility for ensuring that it has a sustainable supply chain, working with contractors to address skills requirements. As we leave the EU, there is an opportunity to invest in the workforce.

In the Housing White Paper, 'Fixing our broken housing market', the Government has set out its plans to help the construction sector ensure that it has the workforce it needs. We are reforming the Construction Industry Training Board so that it delivers the skills and technical education industry needs. This includes more workplace experience and simplification of the path to qualification. A new £34 million fund, administered by the Department for Education, will support and incentivise innovative and employer-led approaches to construction training.

In my own department, we are encouraging greater use of Modern Methods of Construction to increase productivity in housebuilding and reduce our reliance on traditional building skills. We are providing financial support through the Home Building Fund and working with lenders to overcome their concerns. We will ensure that our stakeholders have the opportunity to put their concerns about a future migration model to the Home Office.