As a Shadow Minister, I have a routine opportunity to press Ministers on their plans in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. During this month’s question time, I pushed the Minister both on their decision to cripple local growth and the rise in homelessness that they have overseen since entering office.
Alarmingly, Companies House has revealed that the number of companies struck off from the register was 198,046 in the final three months of the year. This is the highest number of closures for 20 years, dwarfing those shut following the pandemic and even the financial crisis of 2008. I asked Ministers whether they would publish an impact report on businesses of measures outlined in the budget. Sadly, the Minister would not commit to such a measure.
Later in the same session, I asked Ministers about the concerning rise in homelessness. Despite the Government providing funding, St Mungo’s has reported a 27% rise in rough sleeping in London under this Government compared with the same period under the last Government. I asked the Minister to give councils greater flexibility to support homeless residents with appropriate steps to get them off the streets.
