MP's Concern Over 'Bedroom Tax' Plans for Cut in Housing Benefits

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen has written to the housing minister over plans to introduce what has been dubbed the "bedroom tax".  The Government is proposing to cut housing benefit in April for people who are seen as having too many bedrooms for their needs.  Mr Allen has now written to housing minister Grant Shapps after speaking to one local resident, who will be forced to move into a smaller home.  He said she will be among "several thousand" others who could be making the same decision. He wrote: "There will be an immediate rush on one and two-bedroom properties in the area. The effect of this will be to further increase waiting lists causing more stress and homelessness among the young in particular."  The Government says it hopes the changes will contain growing housing benefit expenditure and, make better use of available social housing stock.  Read more on the Nottingham Post website.