Latest news from David Howarth MP
Posted by David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, at 17:24, Thu 27 November 2008:
As we enter the Christmas season I write with good tidings of two recent victories on issues of huge local importance: housing benefit and the Post Office Card Account.
** STOP PRESS ** VICTORY ON HOUSING BENEFIT
I have just had confirmation of a major step forward in my campaign against the unfair Local Housing Allowance.
To give some background: in April this year, the government changed the rules on housing benefit with the result that eight hundred private sector tenants were effectively told they did not have the right to live in Cambridge. The new allowance is based on ‘average’ rents for the local area – but this area is drawn so broadly that it was impossible for many tenants to rent housing in Cambridge at the level at which benefits were set. Instead, they could have been forced to move up to an hour and a half away.
A House of Lords decision earlier this year ruled that the way the system had been implemented was unlawful, but the government failed to act for months. Last week they finally announced that they would be reviewing the way in which the areas for assessing housing benefit are drawn up. I asked the Minister responsible whether Cambridge would be included in this review, and today I received confirmation that this would be the case.
This is very good news for tenants struggling to pay their rent in these straitened financial times. We now need to see a quick conclusion to the review, the drawing up of boundaries that make sense and compensation for those who have suffered as a result of the government’s unfair and unlawful policy. I will continue to fight on this front and will keep you informed of any progress.
POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT SAVED
Two weeks ago, ministers confirmed that the Post Office would continue to run the Post Office Card Account, which had been subject to a bidding process which could have seen it taken over by a private firm.
Many thousands of people, including hundreds locally, joined the campaign to Save the Post Office Card Account. The announcement is a great victory for them. The Post Office Card Account provides an accessible and affordable way for people to receive their benefits, which is used by over 3,700 people in Cambridge. I am delighted that these people will continue to have access to this service.
Of course, the challenge of keeping Cambridge’s post offices open remains. The Post Office appears determined permanently to close the Regent Street, Trumpington Street and St. John’s branches, despite the fact that they have failed to carry out a proper consultation. I am outraged by the manner in which this proposal has been brought forward and continue to press my concerns with the Post Office network development manager.
Please feel free to contact me with your views on these matters or on any other issues affecting Cambridge.
Best wishes,
David Howarth MP for Cambridge
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