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Topical question asked in the House of Commons, by Rupa Huq (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 1 February 2016 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Workless Households

Question

Last week the bedroom tax was declared unlawful in the Court of Appeal because it discriminated against domestic violence victims and disabled children. However, the Government are set to spend more on appealing against the decision than they would spend on abiding by the ruling. Surely the Secretary of State agrees that that means poor value for the taxpayer, and that this despicable and discredited policy needs to go.

Answer

The hon. Lady ought to check her lines before making statements like that. The truth is that that is not what the Court of Appeal said last week. The debate in the Court of Appeal was about whether we should isolate individual groups and rule them out of the benefit system, or leave it to local authorities to handle the matter with extra money. We believe that, with the extra money that we are giving them for discretionary housing payments, local authorities are quite capable of allowing people to stay when they think that that is necessary, without limitation.

What I really wonder about—and this applies to the Front Bench as well—is the fact that Labour Members never, ever talk about those whom they left in overcrowded homes, on waiting lists, and unable to get decent homes. It was they who introduced this policy; we have merely followed through.

Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
605 c634 
Session
2015-16
Oral question type
1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Disability Children Court of Appeal Housing benefit Domestic abuse Judgements Social rented housing Unemployment
Link
View this Topical question on hansard.parliament.uk