Housing: Underoccupancy Charge Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Jenkin of Roding
Main Page: Lord Jenkin of Roding (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Jenkin of Roding's debates with the Department for Work and Pensions
(10 years, 9 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, we have a range of meetings and interactions with local authorities. In particular, at the moment we now have a £20 million discretionary fund on which they can bid. I am hoping to get as much of that money to them as possible.
My Lords, the House is becoming very well aware that the party opposite does not approve of the removal of the spare bedroom subsidy. Could the Minister confirm that if the policy were reversed, it might cost as much as £1 billion over the next two years? Would the Opposition not be a little more convincing if they could give us some idea of how they would replace that?
My Lords, this is a substantial saving, as my noble friend says. Our central estimate is that we will save £500 million a year on this programme, which makes it an important contributor to the Government’s deficit plan. If the Opposition maintain their policy, they need to look at how to find that money back. Not only that, they will run the risk of having to have a similar policy in the private rented sector.