Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Pickles and Catherine McKinnell

Monday 20th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

I will happily talk to my hon. Friend about that idea. I am shocked to hear that Stevenage is not playing its full part. Under right to buy, we will ensure that there are replacements on a one-for-one basis. Essentially, what Stevenage is doing is shooting itself in the foot.

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

T10. A disabled constituent of mine lives with her husband in a two-bedroom property. The second bedroom is used as a lockable safe room because her husband’s mental health condition leads him to become violent. She manages thanks to the discretionary housing payment, which is by definition discretionary and temporary. Why is she not exempt from the hideous bedroom tax, given her circumstances?