Downing Street Says » Housing Benefit Reforms

» Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Housing Benefit Reforms

Asked whether the Prime Minister agreed with the Deputy Prime Minister’s view that Chris Bryant’s remarks about cleansing London of 200,000 poor people was offensive, the PMS said yes; we were reforming housing benefit because it needed reform and the numbers reported did not bear any relation to reality.

Asked what numbers were more realistic, the PMS said that our estimates were that 21,000 would be affected nationally, of which 17,000 were in London.

Asked what the Prime Minister’s view was of Chris Bryant’s suggestion that there would be rioting in wealthier suburbs, the PMS said that the housing benefit system was unaffordable and required reform. We were committed to supporting the most vulnerable families, but it was reasonable to put a limit on the total amount that people claimed in housing benefit, adding 400 was equivalent to around 21,000 a year.

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