'Party Politics' Stopping Tenants From Getting Discretionary Payments

Local councils are ‘playing politics’ by not granting discretionary payments to tenants affected by the bedroom tax. Simon Hughes MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark told at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow that “The discretionary fund is significant, we were told it would be spent way before the end of the year, it hasn’t.  Actually, the number of people coming into my surgery to talk about it is far fewer than expected. The problem is that when people apply for discretionary help, many councils turn them down, and there is no independent appeal system… some councils are playing politics with this.’ Read more on Inside Housing.

Housing Benefit: Foster Carers – Parliamentary Written Answer

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on foster carers of changes to housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The introduction of the social sector size criteria in April will affect around 5,000 foster carers. It is vital that this group are adequately protected.  An additional £5 million of discretionary housing payments has been allocated to those affected, and we are revising guidance for local authorities to ensure foster carers have ready access to this funding.

Lib Dems Will Oppose Scrapping Housing Benefit for Under-25s

The Liberal Democrats will oppose plans floated by the Conservatives to stop housing benefit for the under-25s, according to its deputy leader. Speaking on the BBC’s Question Time Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he would not agree to the proposal and nor would party leader Nick Clegg. Quizzed about whether Nick Clegg would agree and make this a dividing issue in the coalition and absolutely refuse, Hughes said: “Nick does agree with me.”  He added: “We have not signed up to cutting housing benefit for the under-25s and I don’t imagine for a moment we will.”  Read more on 24dash.

Liberal Democrats Voice Fears on Housing Benefit Reform

The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats has attacked the government’s plans to cap benefits as part of its overhaul of the welfare system. Simon Hughes told members of the party that the proposed cap ‘will break up families, as it will provide a financial incentive to be apart’. Mr Hughes added: ‘Under the plans as they stand, a couple with four children will see their benefits limited to £500. But if the parents live separately they will be able to claim up to £1,000. How will that support families? I call on the government to make clear, at the latest before the Welfare Reform Bill comes back to the House of Commons, what it intends to do to prevent the planned benefits changes from breaking up families and damaging the lives of literally hundreds of thousands of children.’ He told the BBC that, while he supported the principle of curbing spending on benefits, the current proposals were unfair. Read more on the Guardian website.

Lib Dems to Overhaul Housing Policy

The Liberal Democrats have launched a review of their housing policy led by senior figures within the party. Deputy leader Simon Hughes and Richard Kemp, leader of the Local Government Association group, are starting work on a detailed overhaul of Lib Dem housing policies. The party, which has recently been rocked by disagreements over security of tenure and cuts to housing benefit, is looking to update a policy last formally written in 2007.
Tenure reform will be one of the issues up for discussion and the group will also make a submission to the CLG’s consultation on tenure. Members of the CLG’s backbench committee and the LGA will also work on the review, which is due to report back in January. Read more on Inside Housing.

Lib Dem Deputy – 'We Have the Power to Stop Fixed-Term Tenancy Pledge’

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes has failed in his bid to debate ‘fixed-term tenancies’ at the party’s autumn conference, but has insisted the party has the power to stop the pledge becoming official Coalition policy. Hughes's motion called for the Government to rule out the removal of lifetime tenures for social tenants. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme "There is a huge debate about how we build the social housing not built by Labour whose record was appalling and there’s a commitment across both coalition parties to build more social housing every year of this Government than any year of the Labour Government. “ Read more on 24dash.