IDS slams bishops on welfare reform

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has hit out at bishops trying to block his welfare reforms, accusing them of ignoring the concerns of ordinary people.

Mr Duncan Smith said the Church of England bishops, who are threatening to derail his planned £26,000 benefit cap, should think more of low-income families who try to do "the right thing".

In an interview with The Sunday Times, he acknowledged that his plans to limit the total payments any household can receive could face defeat in the House of Lords on Monday.

He urged the bishops, who are leading the opposition in the upper chamber, to rethink their objections, insisting they were not doing the poor any favours.

"The question I'd ask these bishops is, over all these years, why have they sat back and watched people being placed in houses they cannot afford? It's not a kindness," he said.

"I would like to see their concerns about ordinary people, who are working hard, paying their tax and commuting long hours, who don't have as much money as they would otherwise because they're paying tax for all of this. Where is the bishops' concern for them?

Iain Duncan Smith urged the bishops to think more of
low-income families who are 'doing the right thing'

"I would like to see a more balanced response from the bishops.

"It's all very well for the bishops to express a political opinion, but I would love them to ask about the poor people on low incomes who are working hard, whose families share rooms, who are doing the right thing."

With Liberal Democrat peers expected to vote against the plan in the Lords, Mr Duncan Smith acknowledged the result could come down to the independent "crossbenchers", including the bishops.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said later that he favoured a benefit cap but said the welfare revamp was currently "completely unacceptable

©Press Association

COUNCIL TENANT SUBLETTERS FACE JAIL

Council tenants who rake in thousands of pounds a year by subletting their homes face up to two years in prison, it was revealed today.

Courts would also be able to fine offenders up to £50,000, under detailed proposals unveiled by the Government.

Abuse of social housing is estimated to cost the taxpayer more than £5 billion a year.

However, it is not currently an offence to sublet a council house. Officials believe up to 160,000 tenants are renting properties to other people.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: "Tenancy cheats are taking advantage of a vital support system for some of the most vulnerable people in our society and getting away with a slap on the wrist while our waiting lists continue to grow.

"It's time for these swindlers to pay the price.

"It would cost us billions of pounds to replace the huge number of unlawfully occupied social homes across the country.

"Meanwhile tenancy cheats can earn thousands of pounds letting out their property, which was given to them in good faith and which could instead be offering a stable home to a family in need.

"The proposals I've announced today would not only deliver justice to these fraudsters, but will also act as a deterrent to those who think they can earn a fast buck from this precious resource.

"I want everyone to know that our country's social homes are going to those in genuine need, not providing a 'nice little earner' to someone who could afford to live elsewhere."

The plans, being put out for consultation, would see the creation of a new criminal offence of tenancy fraud, with a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment and a fine of up to £50,000 if the case goes to crown court.

The money seized would be handed back to the social landlord in whose stock the fraud was committed, rather than going into government coffers.

Local authorities would also get stronger powers to investigate fraud, including easier access to data from banks and utility companies.

©Press Association 2012