Children: Temporary Accommodation

Baroness Hollis of Heigham Excerpts

Monday 11th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My noble friend is right. In the efforts that we are making under the heading of prevention, certainly some of the money is used to ensure that families stay together so that as few children as possible are disrupted and moved out of their families to any other kind of home.

[Baroness Hollis of Heigham (Lab)]

Does the Minister agree with local authorities and with me that the number of children in temporary accommodation, and the length of time that they spend there, will both rise as a direct result of the Government’s policies—that is, the bedroom tax?

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

There is no evidence at this time to suggest that what the noble Baroness asserts is the case. I emphasise the amount of funding that has been specifically set aside both for the areas where rent increases are causing a shortage of affordable housing and for all areas to help people transition and deal with the different welfare reform changes.