Morning Briefing: emergency Commons debate on Universal Credit

In the news

Today’s media is full of the Speaker of the House of Commons’ decision to grant an emergency three-hour debate on Universal Credit.

The debate, to be held this morning, was granted following a request from Labour. This comes off the back of a 299-0 defeat for the government in a non-binding vote on pausing Universal Credit last week. Conservative MPs abstained from the vote.

According to the Mirror, the opposition successfully argued that it was only the “second such defeat” in 40 years.

As the debate over the roll-out of Universal Credit intensifies, Inside Housing today republishes a piece from August looking at what the roll-out could mean for tenants and landlords.

Elsewhere, the BBC is reporting on concerns from housing associations in Wales about plans to restrict housing benefit for social renters in line with the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which is used to calculate housing benefit for private renters.

Inside Housing has also this morning reported these concerns.

In Wales, local news site the Daily Post is reporting that Conwy County Borough Council has a £200,000 funding gap due to overspending on temporary accommodation.

In London, the Hackney Citizen reports on apparent delays to Hackney Council’s housebuilding company plans.

On social media

The #ukhousing hashtag is this morning is full of sector figures warning about the impact of the LHA cap on social housing:

LHA Cap is flawed policy and should not apply to social housing. You can read @chcymru report @insidehousing t.co/GJP29AiNc9?amp=1

— Stuart Ropke (@stuart_chc)

LHA Cap is flawed policy and should not apply to social housing. You can read @chcymru report @insidehousing https://t.co/GJP29AiNc9?amp=1

— Stuart Ropke (@stuart_chc) October 24, 2017

Meanwhile here’s the dire impact of LHA on private rented sector in London t.co/TY4KAWKESj

— Jules Birch (@jules_birch)

Meanwhile here’s the dire impact of LHA on private rented sector in London https://t.co/TY4KAWKESj

— Jules Birch (@jules_birch) October 24, 2017

How much more evidence do we need before govt connects the dots! LHA not in line with <30% of PRS so if social rent out of reach..🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ t.co/NlBstgICoI

— Faye Greaves CIHCM (@FayeGreavesCIH)

How much more evidence do we need before govt connects the dots! LHA not in line with <30% of PRS so if social rent out of reach..\uD83E\uDD26\uD83C\uDFFB‍♀️\uD83E\uDD37\uD83C\uDFFB‍♀️ https://t.co/NlBstgICoI

— Faye Greaves CIHCM (@FayeGreavesCIH) October 24, 2017

What’s on

The Commons debate on Universal Credit is listed in the order paper to take place for three hours at some point after 12.30pm.