CHC responds to Autumn Statement

Commenting on today's Autumn Statement announcement by the Chancellor, Community Housing Cymru Head of Policy & Research Amanda Oliver said:

"The Chancellor’s announcement that there will be a new cap on welfare spending - to include housing benefit - from 2014 is deeply worrying. We already know existing welfare reforms are causing hardship for many people on low incomes, and the cap will exacerbate these problems.

"Meanwhile, while we welcome any attempt to reduce energy bills at a time of rising living costs, the UK Government's agreement with energy companies to save £50 this year is a short-term fix. The savings have been achieved by the government relaxing the commitments that energy companies have to make to cut carbon emissions, and will not help reduce energy bills or help pull households out of fuel poverty in the medium to long term."