Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil has again called on the UK Government to scrap the bedroom tax after a pilot project that pays housing benefit directly to tenants  proved that arrears among  social housing tenants has increased significantly. In the constituency of Na h-Eileanan an Iar the new bedroom tax will directly affect 330 households, and will have a detrimental effect on Hebridean Housing Partnership, who will now see tenants being paid directly rather than the landlord receiving direct payments.

Mr MacNeil commented:

“This week we have seen the UK Government making last minute amendments to the so called bedroom tax, but as we all know these changes do not go far enough, and the UK Government is failing to see the damage this new tax is going to do to families and significantly on social landlords like Hebridean Housing Partnership.

“In my constituency 330 households will be directly affected by this new bedroom tax, if the Tory/Lib Dem Coalition Government think that this will solve problems, in my view it is just going to cause bigger problems for many, and the unfortunate thing is that despite the warnings the UK Government will only realise this when it is too late.”

ENDS