Reductions In Housing Benefit

EDM number 298 in 1996-97, proposed by Alan Howarth on 04/12/1996.

That this House is gravely concerned by proposals in the Budget restricting housing benefit for single people under 60 years renting privately to the cost of shared accommodation for the area from October 1997; notes that this would, if implemented, deny to many middle aged people the opportunity of occupying self-contained accommodation; further notes the poor conditions and safety hazards which are widely encountered in shared accommodation in which single people would increasingly be expected to live; deplores the fact that this involves a clear breach of the assurances given to private tenants by Ministers that housing benefit would protect them from the effects of higher rents following deregulation of private lettings fears that the proposals could lead to the build up of rent arrears resulting in eventual homelessness; and calls on the Government to reconsider these damaging and ill thought-out proposals.

This motion has been signed by a total of 67 MPs.