Pilot benefit scheme “proves Bedroom Tax unworkable” 14/3/13
SNP MP Angus MacNeil has again called on the UK Government to scrap the bedroom tax
after a pilot project that pays housing benefit directly to tenants showed that arrears
among social housing tenants has increased significantly.
Over 300 Western Isles families will be affected by the new rules.
It will have a detrimental effect on Hebridean Housing Partnership, who will now
see tenants being paid directly rather than the landlord receiving direct payments.
Mr MacNeil commented “This week we have seen the UK Government making last minute
amendments to the so called bedroom tax, but as we all know these changes do not
go far enough, and the UK Government is failing to see the damage this new tax is
going to do to families and significantly on social landlords like Hebridean Housing
Partnership.
“In my constituency 330 households will be directly affected by this new bedroom
tax, if the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition Government think that this will solve problems,
in my view it is just going to cause bigger problems for many, and the unfortunate
thing is that despite the warnings the UK Government will only realise this when
it is too late.”