Reform Will Lead to Surge in Bailiffs Recovering Debts

Former housing minister Nick Raynsford has warned the Government’s planned £500m cut in council tax benefit is widely expected to prompt a surge in bailiffs recovering council tax debts.  The Government wants to devolve council tax benefit, requiring councils to set up schemes that will protect pensioners from cuts. However, they will have to do it with £500m less, as the Government wants to cut expenditure on the benefit by 10%.  Raynsford asked the Government what it is doing to prevent an “escalation of intrusive, expensive interventions against low-income households?”  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Jonathan Djanogly, said: “If there are debts to be collected, bailiffs have to go and collect them; otherwise, the system would break down. However, the Government are clear that aggressive bailiff activity is unacceptable, and we are committed to introducing effective proposals that protect the public and ensure that bailiff action is proportionate.”  Read more on the Parliament website.