U.K., Oct. 28 -- UK Parliament issued the following news:

Ms Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Select Committee, has responded to the Chancellor’s Budget statement today.

Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee said:

"Last summer, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee called for the Government to give ‘serious consideration’ to the further devolution of fiscal powers and autonomy. Today's Budget will help to devolve the fiscal powers which local leaders need to drive growth locally. On the fiscal devolution roadmap, it’s important that strategic authorities have the capacity and capability to make the most of their new powers and that the right accountability measures are put in place.

“The extra funding provided by the Chancellor to tackle rough-sleeping is welcome but getting people off the streets and under a roof requires the provision of a wide range of support, which needs to be led by national policy. Help with energy costs will ease the cost of living pressures on households. However, the ongoing freeze of the Local Housing Allowance sadly leaves an important driver of homelessness unaddressed, putting households at risk of homelessness and making it harder for those who are homeless to find somewhere more permanent to live.”

“The Chancellor’s ‘Your First Home’ announcement will help some of those without the support of the ‘Bank of Mum & Dad’. The policy is limited to the purchase of new builds. We will want to see more detail on how the announcements made today will boost overall housebuilding and enable people to buy their own homes.

“The Chancellor’s moves on business rates are welcome and will help to support high street businesses. As part of the committee’s high streets inquiry, we also look forward to seeing further details of the proposals to require planning permission for so-called ‘unwanted shops’ and Aim to Permit changes and how these will benefit our town centres.”

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