Oral Answers to Questions

Jeff Smith Excerpts

Monday 15th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)]

8. What recent steps his Department has taken to develop the future accommodation model.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

10. What recent steps his Department has taken to develop the future accommodation model.

[Carolyn Harris (Swansea East) (Lab)]

18. Whether his Department plans to replace service family accommodation with a rental allowance.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Ellwood]

I agree that it is very important that we work closely with the families federations to make sure that we look after their interests, and we have explained the proposals to them. I meet them regularly and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also met them recently to explain the roll-out of this pilot scheme, which will begin at the end of this year.

[Jeff Smith]

It has been suggested that this model has saved £500 million, but also that it will not reduce the total pot of money used to subsidise housing. Given that we are told that no decisions have been made, is it not true that this £500 million figure has just been plucked from the air and we do not actually know the financial implications of this?