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Housing benefit: MPs debate plans amid Coalition split Plans to amend benefit changes clear first Commons test
(35 minutes later)
MPs are debating plans to relax housing benefit cuts for social housing tenants deemed to have too many bedrooms. Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs have joined forces to defeat Conservatives in a Commons vote to partly overturn housing benefit changes.
Lib Dem MP Andrew George wants to exempt more people from what critics call the "bedroom tax" and ministers say is a "spare room subsidy". MPs backed the Affordable Homes Bill at second reading by 306 votes to 231.
Lib Dem backbenchers support his bill, with Labour also promising to back it. Lib Dem MP Andrew George's private members bill will now move to move detailed scrutiny at the committee stage.
The Tories said the changes being proposed would cost £1bn. They are understood to have ordered MPs to vote against the bill on a three-line whip. The issue has split the coalition, with Lib Dem and Tory MPs and ministers voting along party lines.
If Mr George's private member's Affordable Homes bill becomes law, people who could not be found a smaller home would be exempt from the housing benefit changes introduced in April 2013. Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MPs turned out in force to vote on the first stage of the bill, which would overturn aspects of controversial government legislation which came into force last year.
The bill, which is being debated for the first time, would also exempt disabled people who need a spare bedroom or who have adapted homes. The bill would mean people who could not be found a smaller home would be exempt, as well as disabled people who need a spare bedroom or who have adapted homes.
'More protection''More protection'
Lib Dem, Conservative and Labour MPs have turned out in force to lock horns over the bill, with the Commons benches much more crowded than normal on a Friday - when private members bill are discussed.
Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said he had cancelled other meetings in order to attend and "fix the Tories' unfair bedroom tax".
Mr George, who voted against the housing benefit changes when they were introduced, told MPs that he was proposing "reasonable" changes "based on the evidence" to make the policy fairer.Mr George, who voted against the housing benefit changes when they were introduced, told MPs that he was proposing "reasonable" changes "based on the evidence" to make the policy fairer.
Analysis by BBC Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'ArcyAnalysis by BBC Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'Arcy
Labour see the bill as an opportunity to get the Lib Dems to disown the so-called "Bedroom Tax" (and quite a few Lib Dem backbenchers will be keen to do so) and will therefore support it, "as a rope supports a hanging man".Labour see the bill as an opportunity to get the Lib Dems to disown the so-called "Bedroom Tax" (and quite a few Lib Dem backbenchers will be keen to do so) and will therefore support it, "as a rope supports a hanging man".
But with the Tory awkward squad expected to turn out in force to spin out the debate until time runs out ("does the Pope have a balcony?" one awkward squaddie responded, when asked if he would be there) a hundred MPs will be needed to close the debate and ensure the Bill receives a Second Reading. Read Mark's full analysis.But with the Tory awkward squad expected to turn out in force to spin out the debate until time runs out ("does the Pope have a balcony?" one awkward squaddie responded, when asked if he would be there) a hundred MPs will be needed to close the debate and ensure the Bill receives a Second Reading. Read Mark's full analysis.
He said an interim evaluation of the impact of the changes demonstrated that the most vulnerable people in society were not being adequately protected.He said an interim evaluation of the impact of the changes demonstrated that the most vulnerable people in society were not being adequately protected.
"I can understand the rationale behind the proposal which is simply to apply the regulations to the social rented sector which previously only applied to the private rented sector," he said."I can understand the rationale behind the proposal which is simply to apply the regulations to the social rented sector which previously only applied to the private rented sector," he said.
"We have had long enough to tell how these regulations have had an impact."We have had long enough to tell how these regulations have had an impact.
"It is quite clear that if we are to ensure that...the vulnerable are properly protected, the rules should be changed so that existing tenants are not penalised when they cannot move into smaller accommodation because this is not available in their locality.""It is quite clear that if we are to ensure that...the vulnerable are properly protected, the rules should be changed so that existing tenants are not penalised when they cannot move into smaller accommodation because this is not available in their locality."
WelcomeWelcome
Mr George opted to put together a bill on Affordable Homes after coming top of an annual ballot of backbenchers - which allows members to propose new legislation.Mr George opted to put together a bill on Affordable Homes after coming top of an annual ballot of backbenchers - which allows members to propose new legislation.
It means his proposed law will get more Commons time than would normally be the case for a private members bill.It means his proposed law will get more Commons time than would normally be the case for a private members bill.
It is only the second time that the coalition partners have been encouraged to vote against each other since 2010 - the first was over changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies.It is only the second time that the coalition partners have been encouraged to vote against each other since 2010 - the first was over changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies.
Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said he had cancelled other meetings in order to attend and "fix the Tories' unfair bedroom tax".
Shadow defence minister Vernon Coaker told the BBC "virtually all" Labour MPs were in Parliament in order to vote for the legislation.Shadow defence minister Vernon Coaker told the BBC "virtually all" Labour MPs were in Parliament in order to vote for the legislation.
Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "Today Labour MPs vote to reduce the number of people who pay the bedroom tax. And next May I'll scrap it altogether."Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "Today Labour MPs vote to reduce the number of people who pay the bedroom tax. And next May I'll scrap it altogether."
What were the original changes?What were the original changes?
The government's changes affected housing benefit, which is paid to less well-off tenants to help with rent.The government's changes affected housing benefit, which is paid to less well-off tenants to help with rent.
In the past, claimants typically received between £50 and £100 a week. Since April 2013, tenants deemed to have one spare room have seen their rent support cut by 14% and those with two or more rooms by 25%.In the past, claimants typically received between £50 and £100 a week. Since April 2013, tenants deemed to have one spare room have seen their rent support cut by 14% and those with two or more rooms by 25%.
Tenants can apply for discretionary housing payments to fill any shortfall between their benefit entitlement and the rent.Tenants can apply for discretionary housing payments to fill any shortfall between their benefit entitlement and the rent.
They can also downsize, but problems have arisen in some areas where there is a shortage of smaller homes. Campaigners say those affected face being forced to move long distances to find a property, or move into the private sector, where rents could be higher.They can also downsize, but problems have arisen in some areas where there is a shortage of smaller homes. Campaigners say those affected face being forced to move long distances to find a property, or move into the private sector, where rents could be higher.
Earlier this week, Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said her party had decided to get behind Mr George's bill after initially denouncing the "hypocrisy" of the Lib Dems for attacking a policy which they had voted for.Earlier this week, Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said her party had decided to get behind Mr George's bill after initially denouncing the "hypocrisy" of the Lib Dems for attacking a policy which they had voted for.
But the Conservatives have insisted the changes were working and were bringing "the bloated housing benefit bill under control".But the Conservatives have insisted the changes were working and were bringing "the bloated housing benefit bill under control".
Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry said the Commons backed a cap on the overall welfare bill in 2012 and it would be wrong to do anything to undermine that now.Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry said the Commons backed a cap on the overall welfare bill in 2012 and it would be wrong to do anything to undermine that now.
"We cannot come to this House to spend taxpayers' money without it having consequences.""We cannot come to this House to spend taxpayers' money without it having consequences."
And Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the £1bn cost to the Treasury of amending the plans had been costed and verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.And Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the £1bn cost to the Treasury of amending the plans had been costed and verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
But shadow minister Chris Bryant said this figure was "suspiciously round" and suggested that it had been dreamt up the "night before".But shadow minister Chris Bryant said this figure was "suspiciously round" and suggested that it had been dreamt up the "night before".