John Healey and Owen Smith respond to the Government’s announcement on cuts to supported housing
John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for Housing and Planning, commenting on the announcement today, in response to Labour’s opposition day debate, that the government will suspend plans to cut supported housing rents by 1 per cent for a year, and look again at the impact of housing benefit cuts, said:
“It has taken Labour to force some recognition from Tory Ministers of the devastating effect George Osborne’s cuts could have on supported housing for the most vulnerable. But their response is totally inadequate.
“On the pressing concern about housing benefit cuts for elderly and vulnerable people in supported housing, Ministers have offered nothing but warm words.
“Ministers don’t seem to understand that decisions are being made now to halt or scrap development of new supported housing, and preparations to wind up existing accommodation could start within weeks.
“Labour will continue to argue for these vital homes for the elderly and vulnerable to be exempted from the Chancellor’s cuts.”
Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:
“This is the fourth time in two days the government have been forced to back down on attempts to undermine our social security safety net. They have lost votes on abolishing child poverty targets, been overruled by the courts on the Bedroom Tax and benefit cap exemptions for carers. Now they’ve been forced to admit the mess they have made of plans for supported housing.
“As with the U-turn on tax credits, the Tories’ haphazard rush to push through callous cuts is creating a complete mess. The Tories should not just pause on this cut, but drop the whole Welfare Reform Bill, which is increasingly coming apart at the seams.”
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