HOUSING BENEFIT AND POOR HOUSEHOLDS

Early day motion 643, tabled 26 July 2010 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 51 members.

That this House is concerned that almost one million of the poorest people in Britian, among them 170,000 pensioners, will lose an average of 12 a week next year, a drop of up to 17 per cent. of their disposable income, as a result of cuts in housing benefit; notes that the greatest impact will be felt by the unemployed, who will have to find an extra 11 a week to pay their rent; further notes that more than 40,000 households will lose more than 1,000 a year; endorses the comment of Helen Williams, Assistant Director at the National Housing Federation, that `there is a very real risk that these cuts will push hundreds of thousands of people into poverty, debt and even on to the streets if they end up being evicted'; and calls on the Government not to proceed with policies which will force those on low incomes to leave their homes and existing communities.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Liberal Democrat 7, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Green 1, Independent 1.