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• Reference: 2013/0006-1
• Question by: Fiona Twycross
• Meeting date: 13 March 2013

London is about to experience the largest change to the welfare system since the 1940's, due to take effect on 1 April. These changes include the overall benefit cap, uprating Local Housing Allowance by CPI, bedroom tax (under-occupancy penalties), localisation of the discretionary social fund, localisation of council tax benefit, and replacement of Disability Allowance with the Personal Independence Payment. Can you provide a very general picture of the impact these changes will have on the people of London?

• Question by: Onkar Sahota
• Meeting date: 13 March 2013

This is about 'bedroom tax'. I do welcome the retreat made by the Secretary of State [Iain Duncan Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions] yesterday on three issues. However, I am still concerned - and I am talking as a practising doctor - that I, and my colleagues who see patients, who come to us for letters of exemption where there are adults who have problems or even children who have problems which are not covered by the Disability Act. How responsive are the local authorities on making these exemptions to patients who have genuine grounds supported...