Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Pickles and Graeme Morrice

Monday 7th April 2014 Commons Chamber

[Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)]

T2. Nine in 10 disabled people are cutting back on household bills in order to pay the bedroom tax, and many are now falling into rent arrears. If the Secretary of State were in their position, would he fall into debt or cut back on heating or even eating?

[Mr Pickles]

There is no evidence of any increase in arrears. A number of things can be considered, including taking in a lodger, obtaining a job and getting help from local authorities, which have, by and large, dealt with the issue in a reasonable way. The Labour party lumbered the taxpayer with an enormous bill as far as the growth in housing benefit was concerned, and it is entirely wrong to pretend that it would not have introduced similar constraints.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Pickles and Graeme Morrice

Monday 20th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

I invite the hon. Lady to come to my office and talk with Louise Casey. I do not think there is a scintilla of truth in anything the hon. Lady said, and I greatly regret the breach in bipartisanship towards the programme. Our books are open, so she should come in to see them. I have to tell her, in the nicest possible way, that she should put up or shut up.

[Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab)]

14. What assessment he has made of changes in demand for larger social homes since April 2013.