Figures published by the Office for National Statistics this week revealed that 726 people died homeless in 2018, the highest year-to-year increase since records began.

These figures are shameful in a country as well off as ours. High and rising homelessness is not inevitable. Between 1997 and 2010 the number of people sleeping rough on our streets fell, yet since 2010 it has risen by 165%. I am concerned that this is a direct result of reduced investment in low-cost homes, cuts to housing benefit, reductions in funding for homelessness services and failure to act to protect private renters.

There is widespread agreement, from homeless charities and the National Audit Office and the cross-party House of Commons Select Committees, that Government policy has helped cause the rise in homelessness every year since 2010.

I believe the Government must end rough sleeping and tackle the root causes of rising homelessness by stopping cuts to benefits, investing in more affordable homes, providing stronger rights for renters and increasing funding for homelessness services.