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Minister promises new LHA cap proposals this autumn

The government will have new proposals for supported housing “this autumn”, a minister has pledged.

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Marcus Jones
Marcus Jones
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New proposal on LHA cap ‘this autumn’

Marcus Jones, a minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government, told MPs at a Westminster Hall debate on future funding for supported housing that “the issue of timing is not lost on us” and promised to provide fresh proposals “later on this autumn”.

The debate centred on government proposals to extend the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap on regular housing benefit to supported housing, a proposal which would see significant cuts to the budgets of housing associations and charities.

The debate was brought by Conservative MP Peter Aldous, who told the hall: “The Local Housing Allowance rate was designed for the private rental sector and bears no relation to the cost in the supported housing sector. It is important that we get this right, as the lives of many vulnerable members of society depend on it.”


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Mr Aldous suggested that the government consider adopting the findings of the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Select Committee, which in May this year called on the government to scrap the proposal and introduce in its place a bespoke supported housing allowance.

In response to Mr Aldous, Mr Jones told the room: “I believe that when those proposals come forward, they will indeed show that we have listened and that we have understood the very important issues at hand and the important issue at stake here, because what’s at stake here is helping and supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of Anchor, England’s largest provider of supported housing for older people, said: “It’s great to hear the minister confirm that addressing the future funding of supported housing is a government priority. The sector has repeatedly voiced its concerns about the consequences of capping housing benefit for thousands of vulnerable people in the UK. I am glad that the government is listening.

“The right solution is vital if we are to protect some of the oldest and most vulnerable people and reduce additional demand for the hard-pressed NHS.”

The issue of the LHA cap has become increasingly fraught, especially since the general election, after which the sector called on the government to delay the controversial plans.

Appearing before the (CLG) committee yesterday, communities secretary Sajid Javid said the government is “very close” to making a decision on the panel’s recommendations.

He added: “Hopefully when you see it you will it’s taken account very much of what the committee had to say.”

Update: at 11:50 12.10.17

This story was updated with comments from Sajid Javid at yesterday’s CLG committee meeting

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