Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Oral Answers to Questions

David Lammy Excerpts
Monday 11th March 2013

(11 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Iain Duncan Smith Portrait Mr Duncan Smith
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My hon. Friend is right that the bill for under-25s in receipt of housing benefit is in the order of £2 billion a year. Some 370,000 under-25s claim housing benefit, and 42% of them are without children. However, the reality is that when we looked at that in the round prior to the spending review, it was agreed that it was not a priority area for the coalition. No doubt he will continue to campaign for it to be a priority area, and I am very happy to discuss the matter with him.

David Lammy Portrait Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab)
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The Secretary of State has decided to move forward with his benefit cap in four pilot areas in London. How much has he decided to compensate Haringey council for making it a guinea pig in that way?