MSP attacks 'punitive' tax on low income households
Published 5 Feb 2013 15:35
0 Comments
Share this
ALMOST 2,500 housing benefit claimants in the Scottish Borders and Midlothian will be financially worse off by an average of £9 per week following the introduction of the Westminster Government's so-called bedroom tax in April.
Statistics contained in a report prepared by the Scottish Government show that 1,000 housing benefit recipients in the Borders (28% of the total) and 1,400 claimants in Midlothian (47% of all recipients) will be hit by the Coalition's benefit changes which will affect some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland.
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame described the imposition of the bedroom tax as "a disgrace".
She said: "It goes to prove that the Tories and their Liberal Democrat allies do not care how much misery they heap on those on local incomes in their drive to drastically cut the social security budget. Hundreds of my constituents will suffer as a result of this punitive tax."
A single person or couple in a two bedroom house will see benefit reduced by 14%, and if they have two spare rooms or more by 25%.
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
Border Telegraph Poll
Do you think community councillors should support plans to spend £5,500 on a new lamp post in Galashiels to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee? See this week's Border Telegraph for more details.
This Poll is now closed.
Yes (17.1%)
No (70.7%)
Only if it lights up the whole of Gala (12.2%)
