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Jenrick to face MPs’ questions on coronavirus response
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick will face questions from a cross-party committee of MPs about his department’s response to the coronavirus crisis next Monday.
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee has confirmed that Mr Jenrick will appear before the panel on 4 May to discuss the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s work during the pandemic.
It comes after a letter earlier this month from the committee’s chair, Labour MP Clive Betts, invited the housing secretary to a session.
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“Although we had previously requested you provide evidence to the committee on 11 May on the work of the department, we now believe, given the importance of the issues you cover in relation to the pandemic, that you should attend the committee much sooner,” Mr Betts’ letter said.
“We are disappointed that attempts to facilitate this have, so far, been unsuccessful.”
Health secretary Matt Hancock, transport secretary Grant Shapps and justice secretary Robert Buckland have appeared before their select committees since the coronavirus crisis took hold.
The committee has launched an inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness, rough sleeping and the private rented sector, citing concerns about the “short and long-term impact” of government measures such as halting evictions and providing rough sleepers with emergency accommodation.
Representatives from the Local Government Association (LGA) appeared before the committee on Monday morning.
Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the LGA, told MPs that councils need “three or four times” the £3.2bn coronavirus funding offered by ministers.
