Welfare Amendments Face Government Fight

The government will seek to overturn all amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill when it returns to the House of Commons later in the year. The government was defeated in December over plans for financial penalties for social housing tenants with spare rooms. An amendment tabled by Lord Best, which allows tenants one spare room if there is no other suitable accommodation was passed by the Lords in December. The government also lost three votes last week over plans to restrict Employment and Support Allowance. A Number 10 spokesperson said the cabinet has now agreed to seek to overturn the amendments in the Commons. Read more on Inside Housing.