Slashed Housing Benefit subverts the meaning of fairness

30.11.10

Commenting on regulations announced today for major cuts to Housing Benefit, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Alison Garnham, said:

“The changes will have the result of moving the poorest out of homes, creating new enclaves where the poorest are not welcome to live. This is a subversion of the very definition of fairness.

“The Government should not be throwing in the towel on mixed communities and affordable housing. The society we all aspire to is not riven by social segregation, but united by a good quality of life the whole nation can share in.

“Tens of billions of pounds are cheated, avoided and unpaid in taxes by the richest individuals and corporations. True fairness means closing the deficit with tough action on those who refuse to pay their way in the tax system, not evicting the poorest from their homes and creating exclusive enclaves for the rich.”

Notes for editors

• The Social Security Advisory Committee report, in which they conclude "the evidence we have seen suggests that, over time, these changes will serve to further exclude low-income households from all but the most economically disadvantaged areas of the country " (para 6.3, page 26) can be found here: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/other/9780108509551/9780108509551.pdf
• For up-to-date background facts and stats on UK poverty, visit: www.cpag.org.uk/povertyfacts/
• CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
• CPAG is one of over 150 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302 
tnichols@cpag.org.uk