To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of private renters spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs; and how this proportion compares with previous years.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of private renters spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs; and how this proportion compares with previous years.

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of local authorities which have increased enforcement action against landlords in the private rented sector in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the resources available to local authorities for enforcement.

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of local authorities which have increased enforcement action against landlords in the private rented sector in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the resources available to local authorities for enforcement.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average age at which first-time buyers purchase a home in England; and what assessment they have made of the impact of housing affordability on younger households.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average age at which first-time buyers purchase a home in England; and what assessment they have made of the impact of housing affordability on younger households.

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of planning consents for residential development which have expired without construction beginning in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for non-delivery.

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of planning consents for residential development which have expired without construction beginning in each of the last five years; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for non-delivery.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether current housebuilding rates are delivering the correct balance of market, affordable, and social, housing required to meet household need.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether current housebuilding rates are delivering the correct balance of market, affordable, and social, housing required to meet household need.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between local housing allowance rates and the availability of affordable accommodation in the private rental sector.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between local housing allowance rates and the availability of affordable accommodation in the private rental sector.

To ask The Leader of the House when she expects a Written Answer to be given to the question asked by Lord Young of Cookham on 11 June (HL905).

To ask The Leader of the House when she expects a Written Answer to be given to the question asked by Lord Young of Cookham on 11 June (HL905).

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee report Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change, published on 18 November 2025.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee report Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change, published on 18 November 2025.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first time buyers.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first time buyers.

My Lords, I welcome the announcement on Friday. The Minister listed a number of schemes to help first-time buyers, but actually

none of them has moved the dial, leaving many young people who are renting and want to be owner-occupiers paying more in rent than they would with a mortgage. Recently, the Prime Minister said:

“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, home ownership is a distant dream. My Government will make it a reality once again”.

Would it not be a fitting part of his legacy if, within the next few weeks, he was able to make an announcement that brought those dreams closer?

My Lords, I welcome the announcement on Friday. The Minister listed a number of schemes to help first-time buyers, but actually

none of them has moved the dial, leaving many young people who are renting and want to be owner-occupiers paying more in rent than they would with a mortgage. Recently, the Prime Minister said:

“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, home ownership is a distant dream. My Government will make it a reality once again”.

Would it not be a fitting part of his legacy if, within the next few weeks, he was able to make an announcement that brought those dreams closer?

The Minister will know that contractors acting for the Home Office—Clearsprings and Serco—are bidding for private rented accommodation as asylum seekers move out of hotels. Local authorities are also looking for private rented accommodation as they move families with children in temporary accommodation into the private rented sector. This is resulting in a local bidding war between

two publicly funded authorities, driving up the price of private rented accommodation, which is already suffering from the consequences of the Renters’ Rights Act. Should there not be some memorandum of understanding or concordat to prevent what is happening on the ground in local authority areas?

The Minister will know that contractors acting for the Home Office—Clearsprings and Serco—are bidding for private rented accommodation as asylum seekers move out of hotels. Local authorities are also looking for private rented accommodation as they move families with children in temporary accommodation into the private rented sector. This is resulting in a local bidding war between

two publicly funded authorities, driving up the price of private rented accommodation, which is already suffering from the consequences of the Renters’ Rights Act. Should there not be some memorandum of understanding or concordat to prevent what is happening on the ground in local authority areas?

My Lords, it is time someone spoke up for the cyclist. Unlike the noble Lord, Lord Shamash, I like e-bikes. I am one of a number of noble Lords on the other side of middle age who use e-bikes—legal e-bikes—to get around. Our case is undermined by illegal e-bikes being driven dangerously, often by delivery drivers. The City of London Police confiscates and destroys five illegal e-bikes every week. Should not more police forces do that and give wide publicity to that, in order to reduce this abuse?

My Lords, it is time someone spoke up for the cyclist. Unlike the noble Lord, Lord Shamash, I like e-bikes. I am one of a number of noble Lords on the other side of middle age who use e-bikes—legal e-bikes—to get around. Our case is undermined by illegal e-bikes being driven dangerously, often by delivery drivers. The City of London Police confiscates and destroys five illegal e-bikes every week. Should not more police forces do that and give wide publicity to that, in order to reduce this abuse?

My Lords, young people are paying more in rent than they are on a mortgage, and so they would not need to join the queue for affordable housing if they had some help with a deposit. I put again to the Minister the question I posed to her in April, when she conceded that there was more work to be done. What progress has she been able to make in discussions with the developers, the financial institutions and the Treasury to bring forward a successor to the Help to Buy scheme, on which the then Government made a profit of £1.4 billion last time?

My Lords, young people are paying more in rent than they are on a mortgage, and so they would not need to join the queue for affordable housing if they had some help with a deposit. I put again to the Minister the question I posed to her in April, when she conceded that there was more work to be done. What progress has she been able to make in discussions with the developers, the financial institutions and the Treasury to bring forward a successor to the Help to Buy scheme, on which the then Government made a profit of £1.4 billion last time?

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first-time buyers.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote home ownership for first-time buyers.

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Recently, the Prime Minister said:

“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, homeownership is a distant dream. My government will make it a reality once again”.

For millions of people renting or living with their parents, it remains a dream. Many of them could actually afford the mortgage repayments, but without

access to generous relatives, they cannot afford the deposit. Back in January, when I asked the Minister about hope for first-time buyers, she said:

“A great deal of work is going on in my department and with financial institutions to make sure that we make this process work for first-time buyers and others in the housing market

”.—[Official Report, 8/1/26; col. 1314.]

Should there not now be a fresh initiative to deliver the Prime Minister’s promise?

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Recently, the Prime Minister said:

“For my family growing up, the roof over our heads was everything. But for so many families today, homeownership is a distant dream. My government will make it a reality once again”.

For millions of people renting or living with their parents, it remains a dream. Many of them could actually afford the mortgage repayments, but without

access to generous relatives, they cannot afford the deposit. Back in January, when I asked the Minister about hope for first-time buyers, she said:

“A great deal of work is going on in my department and with financial institutions to make sure that we make this process work for first-time buyers and others in the housing market

”.—[Official Report, 8/1/26; col. 1314.]

Should there not now be a fresh initiative to deliver the Prime Minister’s promise?

My Lords, further to the Question of the noble Baroness, Lady Northover, what steps are the Government taking to secure a domestic supply chain for battery materials, to reduce our dependency on China?

My Lords, further to the Question of the noble Baroness, Lady Northover, what steps are the Government taking to secure a domestic supply chain for battery materials, to reduce our dependency on China?

My Lords, further to my noble friend Lord Jamieson’s Question, the Master of the Rolls has warned that ending Section 21

“will undoubtedly create more contested possession cases than we have had hitherto”.

As we have heard, the average delay last year, according to the MoJ’s figures, was eight months. Ministers have repeatedly said that court readiness is a prerequisite for the success of the system. The courts are not ready. They will not be ready in six weeks’ time, when Section 21 will no longer be operative. What is the Minister going to do?

My Lords, further to my noble friend Lord Jamieson’s Question, the Master of the Rolls has warned that ending Section 21

“will undoubtedly create more contested possession cases than we have had hitherto”.

As we have heard, the average delay last year, according to the MoJ’s figures, was eight months. Ministers have repeatedly said that court readiness is a prerequisite for the success of the system. The courts are not ready. They will not be ready in six weeks’ time, when Section 21 will no longer be operative. What is the Minister going to do?

My Lords, further to the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Pitkeathley, there are 120,000 young carers aged between seven and 18, many of whom are the principal carer for a parent or sibling, accompanying them when they go

into hospital. Although many hospitals are good about identifying the young carers, not all of them are. What more can be done to make sure that these young carers are identified right at the beginning of the process and fully consulted about arrangements for discharge?

My Lords, further to the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Pitkeathley, there are 120,000 young carers aged between seven and 18, many of whom are the principal carer for a parent or sibling, accompanying them when they go

into hospital. Although many hospitals are good about identifying the young carers, not all of them are. What more can be done to make sure that these young carers are identified right at the beginning of the process and fully consulted about arrangements for discharge?

Further to the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Wood, if we are to reduce the use of illegal accommodation, we need to provide more, safer and better accommodation. The Minister may know that some organisations, such as Home for Good, provide alternatives to hard-pressed

local authority accommodation, and they do so with very strong outcomes and at a fraction of the cost of local authority provision. Will she do all she can to encourage organisations like Home for Good to provide these alternatives for vulnerable teenagers currently in care?

Further to the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Wood, if we are to reduce the use of illegal accommodation, we need to provide more, safer and better accommodation. The Minister may know that some organisations, such as Home for Good, provide alternatives to hard-pressed

local authority accommodation, and they do so with very strong outcomes and at a fraction of the cost of local authority provision. Will she do all she can to encourage organisations like Home for Good to provide these alternatives for vulnerable teenagers currently in care?

I am grateful for that. Last week, the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, said that the adult social care system was held together by “sticking plasters and glue” and said on the “Today” programme that the system was “horrendous”. She is due to complete the first part of her review this year—basically, looking at getting better value from the existing system—but the second part, which will look at the long-overdue reform of the adult social care system, will not be completed until 2028. That will be too late for this Government to pass the necessary

legislation, making this Parliament the fifth to have ducked this issue. The noble Baroness, Lady Casey, completed her review of grooming gangs in four and a half months. If asked, she could complete the second part of this review by September 2027, which would give us adequate time for this to be done in this Parliament. Will the Minister ask her to do just that?

I am grateful for that. Last week, the noble Baroness, Lady Casey, said that the adult social care system was held together by “sticking plasters and glue” and said on the “Today” programme that the system was “horrendous”. She is due to complete the first part of her review this year—basically, looking at getting better value from the existing system—but the second part, which will look at the long-overdue reform of the adult social care system, will not be completed until 2028. That will be too late for this Government to pass the necessary

legislation, making this Parliament the fifth to have ducked this issue. The noble Baroness, Lady Casey, completed her review of grooming gangs in four and a half months. If asked, she could complete the second part of this review by September 2027, which would give us adequate time for this to be done in this Parliament. Will the Minister ask her to do just that?