Proceeding contribution from Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 10 March 2011. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Housing Benefit.

Housing Benefit

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for setting that context. During the course of this debate, one or two hon. Members have said that this is all about chasing the headlines in the red tops—the tabloids—and it is that that is shaping policy. Clearly, this is not a policy about a small number of extreme cases. The hon. Member for Hampstead and Kilburn says there are about 90 cases, but let me give one example. The top 5,000 cases of people to whom we pay housing benefit cost us £100 million a year. For 5,000 people to live in properties—

Secondary information

Type: Proceeding contribution
Reference: 524 c318WH
Session: 2010-12
Chamber / Committee: Westminster Hall
Subjects: Housing benefit Private rented housing Reform Social security benefits Discretionary housing payments
Link: View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk

Housing Benefit

Secondary information

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