17 January 2011
Parliament to vote on radical housing reform measures before consultation has ended
This afternoon, Parliament will vote on radical social housing
reform measures in the Localism Bill more than two hours before the
consultation on the measures is due to end, making it impossible
for consultation responses to influence the vote.
Housing Justice, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist
Church, and the United Reformed Church have responded to the
Department of Communities and Local Government's consultation but
fear their responses will be ignored.
Alison Gelder, Director of Housing Justice, commented: "The
Government is proposing revolutionary changes to social housing
provision. It wasn't in their manifestos or the coalition agreement
and is now being introduced at a breakneck speed before they have
even opened the consultation responses. We welcome the opportunity
to improve the social housing system but this hurried and
ill-considered set of proposals is not a sensible way
forward."
The Government also plans to introduce an 'affordable rent' scheme,
which will mean that some families living in social housing may
have to pay up to £800 per week, when housing benefit is capped at
£400 per week. "Any government-funded housing entitled 'affordable
rent' should be affordable for those on benefits - anything else is
unjust and misleading," said Paul Morrison, Policy Advisor for the
Methodist Church. "The backdrop to these changes is huge cuts to
housing benefit, with an estimated 1.3 million families worse off
because of the proposals, but the Government has failed to
highlight this in their plans."
"The Government talks about greater democratic involvement, and
states that involving the public in government should be integral
to policy-making," added Revd Graham Sparkes, Head of Faith and
Unity for the Baptist Union of Great Britain. "Yet now we discover
that crucial votes on housing reform are taking place without even
considering evidence submitted through the consultation process.
Such action is unacceptable."
Frank Kantor, Church and Society Secretary of the United Reformed
Church said: "Many of our churches offer practical support for
those at the rough end of the housing system; the street homeless,
those in temporary accommodation and those waiting for a place they
can afford. These proposals give no indication that their needs
will be met. Given the inadequate consultation process we can't
even say their voices will be heard."