Housing Benefit

Lord Campbell of Alloway Excerpts

Monday 4th March 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, there were concerns ahead of our changes to the local housing allowance that private rented accommodation would not be available. I was pleased to learn that that in contradiction to this, in the key London area, where some of the pressures have been greatest, availability in the private rental sector for benefit recipients has actually gone up 5% since we introduced the LHA changes.

[Lord Campbell of Alloway]

My Lords, this is a sad affair. Would the Government possibly have another look at it?

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, when we introduced the local housing allowance changes in the private rented sector a year and a half ago, there were real concerns about homelessness, just as there are now. I stated to the Select Committee that we did not expect any significant increase in homelessness as a result of these changes. We have now run through the LHA changes—they were completed last December—and I am pleased to say that while there have been some modest increases in homelessness in London—it is up 600-odd households—that compares with predictions put out by Shelter and the Cambridge group that up to 134,000 people could move or be made homeless as a result. Your Lordships will understand that it is important to see what the results of some of these changes are, just as much in the social rented sector as we have seen in the private rented sector.

Remploy

Lord Campbell of Alloway Excerpts

Wednesday 5th October 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, I must repeat that no decisions have yet been taken on the Sayce review. We are in consultation until later this month. However, I must point out that it is vital that the work is real. We are looking at the Sayce recommendations to see whether those factories can be turned into social enterprises where there is real and genuine long-lasting work. Make-work jobs are no solution for anyone.

[Lord Campbell of Alloway]

My Lords, speaking from this Bench, may I respectfully ask my noble friend whether he will take this Question back for further consideration as it does imply amendments to employment law which may cause considerable inhibition as regards the recovery of the economy?

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, clearly, that is a mixed question from my noble friend. I will look very closely at the optimal way of getting disabled people to take a full part in the economy of this country. I will certainly look very hard at that issue.