Housing Benefits (18 to 21-year-olds) Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Housing Benefits (18 to 21-year-olds)

Cat Smith Excerpts
Tuesday 7th March 2017

(7 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Caroline Nokes Portrait Caroline Nokes
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The policy is expected to affect 5,000 young people in the first year, and 10,000 a year in steady state.

Cat Smith Portrait Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)
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Given that the number of people rough sleeping has more than doubled since 2010, does the Minister think that the policy, which singles out young adults, will make that shameful statistic better or worse?

Caroline Nokes Portrait Caroline Nokes
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As I have said repeatedly, we have put in place a long list of exemptions precisely to prevent homelessness. Those who are unable to return to the family home will be exempt from the policy, so we do not expect it to increase homelessness.