Committee publication · Correspondence · 23 January 2025
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 23 January 2025 concerning the work of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
From: Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Inquiry: The Work of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Summary
Chair Florence Eshalomi writes to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner following her committee appearance on 7 January 2025, raising substantive concerns across five policy areas: the absence of equality impact assessments for Local Housing Allowance freezes and National Insurance increases; building remediation progress post-Grenfell (only 48% underway after 7 years); wheelchair accessibility targets for 1.5 million new homes; outstanding responses to predecessor committee reports; and risks to local authority capacity from simultaneous devolution, reorganisation, and safeguarding duties.
Key findings
- No equality impact assessments were carried out on Local Housing Allowance freezes or National Insurance contribution increases before implementation, raising concerns about eviction risks and adult social care impacts.
- Only 48% of buildings identified for remediation have begun or completed work seven years after Grenfell; developers have promised £600m but none paid as of 31 March 2024.
- Contradiction between stated targets: Secretary of State said unsafe cladding remediation would complete 'by end of this Parliament' but policy paper specifies 'by end of 2029'.
- Government has not specified how many of 1.5 million planned new homes will be wheelchair accessible (London standard is 10% meeting M4(3) wheelchair standard).
- Committee expresses concern that local government reorganisation coinciding with devolution, housing delivery targets, and child safeguarding duties risks overwhelming stretched local authorities.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Notable line
“"remediation has begun or has been completed on only 48% of those buildings" that the Department had identified .”
Key Quotes
“We remain extremely concerned about the impact that freezing Local Housing Allowance rates will have on families. Quite simply, with the allowance frozen, more families may find themselves evicted because they are unable to pay their rent.”
“"remediation has begun or has been completed on only 48% of those buildings" that the Department …”
“However, the policy paper for the action plan says that the aim is for this remediation to be complete "by the end of 2029 ".”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗