"800 young people face losing housing benefit under
government plans. We oppose this cut. There are already
people living in tents in this city and I believe that the
estimate of 55 rough sleepers is an underestimate."
"The government don't understand that not all 18-21 year olds can stay with mummy and daddy. Sometimes they fall out with their parents or end up without parents. Sometimes they are leaving care. If the governments plans continue we could end up having hundreds more rough sleepers. The government don't seem to understand that not everyone's life is that easy. "
"I dealt with rehousing a young person who was 18 a couple of weeks ago where he faced living on the streets. Under the governments plan he would end up on the streets."
"I did not, however, photograph him unlike my Labour opponent - who photographed homeless people living in tents in Birmingham recently - my objective is to solve problems rather than just use them to try to garner votes."
"I spoke to the people living in the tents and their problem is a simple failure of the benefits system. They are entitled to benefits, but the system has failed. MPs have access to a benefits hotline which they can use to solve benefits problems quickly. It appears, however, that my Labour opponent is only interested in taking a photo and not doing anything to actually solve the problem."
"Benefits issues are complex. We need to look after people without encouraging a dependency culture. This, cut, however, is one that should be stopped."
ENDS
Here is a list of the numbers of 18-21 year olds by constituency who will lose housing benefit under the current plan.
"The government don't understand that not all 18-21 year olds can stay with mummy and daddy. Sometimes they fall out with their parents or end up without parents. Sometimes they are leaving care. If the governments plans continue we could end up having hundreds more rough sleepers. The government don't seem to understand that not everyone's life is that easy. "
"I dealt with rehousing a young person who was 18 a couple of weeks ago where he faced living on the streets. Under the governments plan he would end up on the streets."
"I did not, however, photograph him unlike my Labour opponent - who photographed homeless people living in tents in Birmingham recently - my objective is to solve problems rather than just use them to try to garner votes."
"I spoke to the people living in the tents and their problem is a simple failure of the benefits system. They are entitled to benefits, but the system has failed. MPs have access to a benefits hotline which they can use to solve benefits problems quickly. It appears, however, that my Labour opponent is only interested in taking a photo and not doing anything to actually solve the problem."
"Benefits issues are complex. We need to look after people without encouraging a dependency culture. This, cut, however, is one that should be stopped."
ENDS
Here is a list of the numbers of 18-21 year olds by constituency who will lose housing benefit under the current plan.
| Losing HB | |
| Birmingham, Edgbaston | 80 |
| Birmingham, Erdington | 130 |
| Birmingham, Hall Green | 70 |
| Birmingham, Hodge Hill | 40 |
| Birmingham, Ladywood | 230 |
| Birmingham, Northfield | 30 |
| Birmingham, Perry Barr | 90 |
| Birmingham, Selly Oak | 70 |
| Birmingham, Yardley | 40 |
| Sutton Coldfield | 20 |
| Total CityWide | 800 |
| Rough Sleepers | |
| Birmingham |
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