problems, and will inevitably increase poverty and homelessness in Edinburgh and across the UK. There has been one piece of good news in


recent weeks: the City of Edinburgh Council is moving towards a ‘no-eviction policy’ for council tenants affected by the bedroom tax. That means, where a person gets into arrears due to the bedroom tax, and the council are satisfied that this would not be the case if it were not for the bedroom tax, the council will not evict tenants. This will go some way to helping those


affected, but it will still mean arrears and hardship for thousands of families while those in Housing Association properties are not affected by this change. That is why I will continue to call on the Scottish Government to do what it can with its powers to prevent evictions and protect Scotland’s families from the worst effects of this tax. I will also continue to pressure the Scottish Government to reverse their savage cuts to the affordable housing budget that is ultimately causing a shortage of social housing and sending more and more residents to the privately rented sector. This is pushing up the housing benefit bill and causing untold hardship to ordinary working people. Unless we ease the squeeze on middle and


low income families, we won’t get the economy out of the terrible mess this Government has made.


1412


Environment,


Food & Rural Affairs Questions


I asked a question to the


Secretary of State about the adulteration of food. Click the play button:


Syria PMQs I asked the Prime


Minister about his decision to give a tax cut to millionaires. Click the play button:


DWP Questions


I asked the Minister for Pensions about the


unfairness of the proposed


changes to womens' pensions. Click the play button:


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