The Rt Hon Matthew Pennycook is the Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015. He currently holds the Government post of Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government).
Overall, across health & social care this Parliament
Alive and kicking!
Ranks 212th of 1273 MPs and peers who have spoken on health or care this Parliament — top 17%. 29 contributions since 2024-09-09.
What they’ve raised
Matthew Pennycook has engaged extensively with planning and housing policy through 28 debate speeches, with particular focus on how planning decisions intersect with health outcomes—including mental health benefits of green spaces and the creation of healthy, inclusive communities. While his eight topic areas span health and social care issues, his recent contributions emphasise housing-related concerns including cold and damp homes, council housing provision, and exempt accommodation, framed through a public health lens. He has also participated in committee work on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
Record by topic
- Public health & prevention71st of 68318.0
- NHS waiting lists68th of 53017.5
- Learning disability & autism301st of 89812.0
- Adult social care & reform56th of 3619.0
- Mental health469th of 8676.0
- Elderly care & frailty26th of 2276.0
- Health inequalities72nd of 2776.0
- Heart disease & stroke170th of 386
What they’ve said
“…Such spaces are vital community assets that provide significant benefits, not only for physical and mental health but to mitigate growing challenges, such as the urban heat island effect.”
National Planning Policy Framework: Proposed Health Inequality Duty · 2026-06-15 · Read on Hansard ↗
“If the right hon. Gentleman would not mind sending me details of the two cases in question, I am more than happy to sit down and have a conversation with him about how he thinks those decisions interact with the proposals set out in the recent consultation.”
National Planning Policy Framework: Proposed Health Inequality Duty · 2026-06-15 · Read on Hansard ↗
“I will happily direct my counterpart in Northern Ireland to the Government’s response when we publish it in due course, having analysed those two consultations. Where private arrangements exist, they must be transparent and properly regulated.”
New Developments: Unadopted Roads and Public Amenities · 2026-05-13 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…The multidisciplinary teams that have been established in the local authority, across housing enforcement, adult social care and housing benefit teams, have strengthened understanding and allowed targeted action to take place.”
Supported Exempt Accommodation: Birmingham · 2026-02-11 ·