Oral Answers to Questions

Baroness Clark of Kilwinning Excerpts

Monday 11th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hoban]

That is absolutely at the heart of the roll-out of universal credit, which will mean that people know that they are better off in work, and better off working more hours and earning more than working fewer hours and earning less. That incentive to get paid work is at the heart of our welfare reforms.

[Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran) (Lab)]

12. If he will reconsider the decision not to include residential properties owned by local authorities for temporary accommodation in the definition of temporary accommodation contained in the Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Steve Webb)]

From 8 April, people living in temporary accommodation will, in most cases, be unaffected by the removal of the spare room subsidy in the social rented sector. However, where a local authority’s own temporary accommodation is used, the spare room subsidy will be removed if the tenant is placed in accommodation that is larger than they need.

[Katy Clark]

In North Ayrshire the council owns 63% of the accommodation used as temporary accommodation, and the bedroom tax will apply to approximately two thirds of those properties. Will the Minister look again at the definition of temporary accommodation, given that this policy will simply mean that local authorities end up spending a lot more on less suitable accommodation from the private sector?

[Steve Webb]

We think that local authorities using their own stock to discharge their homelessness function should, wherever possible, house people in appropriately sized accommodation. If there are short-term problems in matching families to accommodation size, discretionary payments are available and can be used to support any shortfall a local authority may experience.