Homelessness Plan Unveiled as Commons Reaffirms US, NATO Ties

High-Level Summary

The Commons examined business and trade policy, with Ministers outlining support for SMEs, energy‑intensive industries and hospitality, alongside forthcoming action on late payments. An Urgent Question probed the United States’ national security strategy, with the Government reaffirming NATO, support for Ukraine and close US ties while noting disagreements with some US language on Europe. The Leader of the House announced the following week’s business and flagged the launch of a national homelessness strategy before a full statement set targets to end family B&B use this Parliament and halve long‑term rough sleeping. MPs also marked St Andrew’s Day in a wide debate on Scottish affairs, debated foreign interference in UK democracy and security, and closed with an adjournment on historic planning consents enabling a large warehouse near Pilning.

Detailed Summary

Oral Answers to Questions: Business and Trade

Ministers said a new small business strategy has been published and that legislation tackling late payments will be introduced “later this year” [ref: b459.8/1; b459.10/1]. They highlighted support for clean industries (“targeted catalytic public investment in our clean energy industries” [ref: b460.1/1]) and confirmed a South Wales investment zone “in Cardiff and Newport, targeting semiconductors and advanced manufacturing” [ref: b463.3/1]. On hospitality and the high street, Ministers referenced a tourism target of “50 million international visitors to the UK by 2030” and £4.3 billion in transitional relief [ref: b460.3/1]. For defence SMEs and exports, the Government cited a defence industrial strategy [ref: b460.5/1], asked UK Export Finance to give “specific support for SMEs” [ref: b462.0/1], and said an India deal would reduce Scotch whisky tariffs from 150% to 75%, and to 40% in 10 years [ref: b462.2/1].

On business rates, Ministers said, “We provided relief last year, we provided £4.3 billion of relief this year” [ref: b463.0/1], and confirmed permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000 [ref: b472.5/1]. On energy costs, a consultation proposes cutting industrial electricity prices by “around £40 per megawatt-hour from 2027” with compensation for network charges rising from 60% to 90% and a review of energy‑intensive industry schemes [ref: b465.4/1; b465.6/1]. Product safety points included “170 e‑bike fires” in 2024 and use of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 to update laws for new risks [ref: b464.5/1]. Other themes included investment and “cutting unnecessary regulation” [ref: b467.6/1], Brexit’s impact—“a 4% drop in productivity, a 15% drop in trade and a £100 billion hit” [ref: b468.3/1]—family policy (day‑one paternity leave and statutory pay rising to £194.32 per week from April 2026, subject to approval [ref: b470.4/1]), and secondary ticketing, where it will be “illegal to resell a live events ticket for a profit,” with platform fines up to 10% of global turnover [ref: b471.4/1]. Outcome: no votes; commitments included late‑payment legislation, business‑rates relief, industrial energy support and sector measures. Next steps: legislation and consultations to follow (specific timelines not stated in the transcript).

Urgent Question: United States National Security Strategy (UK–US relations, NATO, China, Ukraine)

The Cabinet Office Minister affirmed the importance of the UK–US relationship and noted “it is for the United States to set its own national security strategy,” adding both leaders had “repeatedly emphasised their commitment to continuing to strengthen it” [ref: b483.2/1; b483.2/2]. On NATO, the Minister stated, “President Trump has been clear on the US’s commitment to NATO and article 5” [ref: b488.0/1]. On Ukraine, the Government backed a “just and lasting peace, and a sovereign Ukraine,” and highlighted high‑level engagement; “there can be no deal affecting Ukraine without Ukraine” was endorsed [ref: b485.0/3; b489.4/1].

On China and the proposed UK Chinese embassy site, the Minister said a final decision “will be made in due course by Ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government” [ref: b485.2/2]. Asked about US NSS language on Europe, the Minister stated, “I do not agree with those comments” about “civilisational erasure” [ref: b492.1/1]. Questions on hitting 3% of GDP for defence were met with reiterations that Europe must step up and with restatements of UK defence commitments (a detailed funding plan was not set out in the transcript) [ref: b485.0/2]. Outcome: no division; reaffirmation of NATO, support for Ukraine and close US ties, with differences noted and due process for embassy planning decisions. Next steps: ongoing diplomatic engagement; domestic embassy decision in due course.

Business of the House

The Leader announced business for 15–18 December, including consideration of Lords messages and Second Readings (Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill; Finance (No. 2) Bill; National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill), and the pre‑Christmas Adjournment debate. The House will rise on 18 December and return on 5 January 2026 [ref: b494.2/2; b494.2/6]. He also highlighted the Government’s homelessness strategy launch, aiming “to halve the number of people sleeping rough long term by 2029” [ref: b495.0/2]. On Budget leak inquiries, he said market reaction had been “quite positive” and Ministers would update the House if anything emerged [ref: b495.0/7]. Outcome: business confirmed. Next steps: debates and any statements as scheduled.

Statement: National Plan to End Homelessness

The Minister said the Government inherited a homelessness crisis, citing that “1,142 people died while homeless last year” and “74 children’s deaths were connected to temporary accommodation” in five years [ref: b516.1/3]. Key commitments included eliminating the use of B&Bs for families in this Parliament [ref: b516.1/7], halving long‑term rough sleeping by the end of the Parliament [ref: b516.1/10], and introducing a duty to collaborate across public services [ref: b516.1/12]. Funding pledges were more than £1 billion this year, an extra “£50 million top‑up to the homelessness prevention grant this year,” and “a further £3.5 billion for homelessness and rough sleeping services over the next three years” [ref: b516.1/13]. Policy measures included acquiring long‑term accommodation, inspections, support for families, requiring councils to notify schools and health services when a child is in temporary accommodation, and working to end discharges of newborns and mothers into B&Bs [ref: b516.1/7; b516.1/9].

Opposition speakers broadly supported the aims but questioned delivery capacity, housing build rates, metrics and repeal of the Vagrancy Act. The Minister said metrics would be reported to Parliament and that Vagrancy Act timings would be provided in writing [ref: b519.0/2; b519.0/3]. She later reiterated, “we will end the use of B&B accommodation by the end of the Parliament in all but the most extreme cases” [ref: b527.2/1]. Outcome: statement made; cross‑party support with scrutiny on delivery. Next steps: cross‑government implementation, reporting on outcomes, and further details on legislative changes to follow.

Backbench Business: St Andrew’s Day and Scottish Affairs

Opening the debate, the sponsor framed it as reflecting on “Scotland as it was, Scotland as it is, and Scotland as it could be” [ref: b530.3/1]. Contributions covered history, identity, higher education and public services. One Member highlighted NHS pressures, saying “there are now 86,000 cases of patients who have been stuck for more than a year on waiting lists,” with increased 12‑hour A&E waits [ref: b536.0/2]. Others stressed inclusion, with the saltire described as “a flag of welcome and inclusion—we would all do well to remember that” [ref: b541.0/3], and highlighted cultural and economic strengths in St Andrews and beyond [ref: b541.2/2]. Outcome: general debate; no decisions. Next steps: not stated in the transcript.

General Debate: Foreign Interference in Security, Trade and Democracy

The mover warned that global institutions are weakening and Britain faces hybrid threats: “We live in a fractured world in which authoritarian states test boundaries with impunity” [ref: b565.3/6]. Specific examples cited included a 2024 parcel bomb plot traced to Russian‑directed saboteurs and an arson attack in east London by an individual recruited by the Wagner Group [ref: b566.1/2; b566.1/3]. Members raised the scale of hostile online influence—Russia operating “across every single conceivable channel and platform, including Minecraft” [ref: b572.0/5]—and domestic vulnerabilities, including references to a bribery conviction of a former Reform UK leader linked to Russian operatives and calls for scrutiny of foreign‑linked donations (no Government decisions on these points were stated in the transcript) [ref: b577.0/8]. Another Member argued, “The special relationship is now well and truly over,” prompting wider discussion about alliances [ref: b575.0/2].

Responding, the Security Minister set out Government measures: renewing the Defending Democracy Taskforce; deploying the National Security Act 2023 and Online Safety Act 2023; and sanctions—“Since October 2024, the Government have sanctioned 31 organisations and individuals responsible for delivering Russia’s information warfare” [ref: b588.3/2]. He said the Government are taking a whole‑of‑Government approach “to make the UK a harder target” [ref: b588.3/8]. Outcome: no division. Next steps: continued implementation of legislative tools, protective‑security work and sanctions.

Adjournment Debate: Historical Planning Consents and a Warehouse Development (Pilning)

The Member described the impact of a large warehouse built under decades‑old consents near Pilning, with residents calling it “A monstrosity”, “the giant greenhouse” and “like living next to a large prison” [ref: b591.2/1; b591.2/2; b591.2/3]. She argued that only limited reserved matters (layout, design and appearance) were assessable and that further such developments could follow under extant historical consents [ref: b591.3/1; b591.3/6]. She asked the Government to create a process, akin to reviews of old minerals permissions, to modernise blanket consents not fully implemented [ref: b591.3/19; b591.3/20].

The Minister said that once granted, planning permission “will not be readily removed or altered,” but noted local authorities can, in limited circumstances, seek to revoke or modify permissions or use completion notices [ref: b594.0/4; b594.0/8; b594.0/9]. He offered to facilitate a meeting with officials and relevant statutory bodies to explore options [ref: b594.0/14]. Outcome: no decision; commitment to further engagement. Next steps: meeting to be arranged; exploration of available planning tools under existing law.