John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary
of State for Housing,
responding to a government call for evidence on whether a new system of
regulation for letting and management agents is needed, said:

“In
the face of a housing crisis getting worse by the day, this is a feeble
announcement. This isn’t even a commitment to act, it’s a commitment to ask
some questions. After seven years of failure on housing, Ministers need to do
much better than this.

“Rather
than just asking whether renters and leaseholders need better protections,
Ministers should act on Labour’s proposals to end the building of new leasehold
homes, cap rises in ground rents, and back our plan for new consumer
protections for private tenants including a control on rent rises, a ban on
letting fees and new minimum standards.”

Margaret
Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow Employment Minister, commenting on today’s Labour
Market Statistics from ONS, said:

“With
a record number of working people living in poverty, the news that real wages
have fallen yet again is deeply concerning.

“While
the overall increase in employment is welcome, it’s also clear from today’s figures
that too many people are struggling to find employment because of their age,
ethnicity, disability, or where they live.

“The
Tories’ cuts to in-work support are making matters even worse for working
families. That’s why it’s so crucial the Government urgently listens to
Labour’s call to pause the roll out and fix Universal Credit.”

Debbie
Abrahams MP,
Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s
Universal Credit statistics, said:

“The
increase in the number of people on Universal Credit is worrying given the
Government’s chaotic handling of its roll out.

“The
Conservatives have finally listened to Labour and scrapped the premium phone
helpline for claimants, now they need to listen to the calls of charities and
councils and back Labour’s motion today to immediately pause and fix the roll
out of Universal Credit, before more people are pushed into rent arrears,
poverty and homelessness.”

Peter
Dowd MP,
Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on the
Public Accounts Committee report on tackling online VAT fraud and error:

“The
Public Accounts Committee report reiterates once again that this Conservative
Government is completely out of step with the rest of the world when it comes
to tackling tax avoidance. Despite having an array of unused new powers, HMRC
continues to be outfoxed by large multinational corporations who do not charge
VAT and it is British businesses who are paying for it.

“Instead
of continuing his deluded pursuit of further cuts and more austerity, the
Chancellor should take seriously on board the recommendations in this report
and tackle VAT fraud which is costing taxpayers billions of pounds a year.

“The
next Labour government will introduce our Tax Transparency and Enforcement
Programme which will clamp down on tax avoidance and VAT fraud, so we can build
an economy which works for the many, not the few.”

Labour
will today (Wednesday 18 October) announce the party’s backing for a public
inquiry into the use of surgical mesh implants.

Labour
will also call for use of the products to be stopped in England immediately
while the inquiry is undertaken.

The
call comes as MPs prepare to discuss the impact of mesh implants in a debate
called by Emma Hardy, MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle, taking place
in Westminster Hall at 9.30am on Wednesday.

Sharon
Hodgson MP, Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister, speaking ahead of
today’s debate, said:

“Mesh implants have left women in permanent pain, unable to walk,
and unable to work. This is an ongoing public health scandal and the Government
need to do much more to support those affected.  

“Ministers
have said NICE will publish updated guidance for these products but not until
January 2018. Mesh implants should be taken off the market now until we know
more about the threat they pose to women’s safety.

“The
Government have failed to answer big questions about the extent of this public
health scandal, including how many women have been affected and why a product
with such terrible risks was allowed into the market in the first place.

“Labour
is calling for a full inquiry to uncover the extent of the harm done by mesh
implants so we can be sure that this never happens again.”