Mr Durkan has said the Prime Minister’s proposal corroborates the suspicion which the SDLP has consistently expressed that the Welfare Reform Act was a staging post for further cuts rather than the destination for the Tories’ benefit plans.
He said: “The Chancellor said in March’s Budget statement that at least a further £10billion of welfare cuts will be needed by 2016.
“This reference by George Osborne and David Cameron’s proposal to remove housing benefit from under 25’s corroborates the suspicion which the SDLP has strongly expressed that the Welfare Reform Bill was a staging post for further cuts, rather than the destination for the Tories’ benefit plans.
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“It should be noted that the way the Welfare Reform Act was constructed could allow the government to make significant adverse changes to benefit rates and rules using the wide powers of ministerial regulation. Framing the Welfare Reform Bill this way could possibly avoid or reduce the need for new primary legislation before significantly changing benefits for the worse for many.
“Colleagues in the Assembly will want to consider this in the context of the Northern Ireland leg of the Welfare Reform Bill now going through the Assembly.
“We have to be extremely concerned about the consequences of so-called ‘welfare reforms’ on vulnerable people – not least in Derry where they will have a disproportionate impact in comparison to other areas. The cumulative impact on housing policy and prospects will be deep and harmful.
“The Tories’ direction of travel in everything they do is putting a squeeze on people on benefits and the most vulnerable in society.
“The government priority should be to create opportunities for work, skills and prospects for younger people. Instead they are being opportunistic in trying to scapegoat young people for the current economic malaise.”
(CD)
