Oral Answers to Questions

Gerald Jones Excerpts

Monday 19th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mel Stride]

My hon. Friend the Father of the House is absolutely right. It is really important that we operate with all those relationships across the private and public sectors. Jobcentres up and down the country are heavily engaged with employers at all levels, and not just the large ones but the small and medium-sized enterprises that are so important.

[Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab)]

2. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the local housing allowance.

[Dan Carden (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab)]

18. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the local housing allowance.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mims Davies)]

The local housing allowance policy is kept under regular review and rates are reviewed annually. LHA rates were boosted with a £1 billion funding increase in 2010, and this significant investment has been maintained since then. Discretionary housing payments, or DHPs, are available for those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

[Gerald Jones]

Private rental costs in Wales increased by 4.2% in the year to February 2023, the highest annual percentage since the Tories came to power. The Government have accepted the need to uplift benefits in line with inflation, but they have completely failed to accept that the same principles should apply to the local housing allowance. Given that rent is the largest outgoing for a typical family budget, can I ask the Minister why?