Question
Yesterday, Trussell and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation wrote to the Prime Minister criticising the Government for freezing local housing allowance, saying that it will not help people with the cost of living and will critically undermine plans to end rough sleeping. Does the Chancellor agree with those national charities and Citizens Advice in my Woking constituency that rent support must be tied to actual rent levels?
Answer
Rent allowance and how we best support the increase in the building of council and social housing were also part of my Budget announcements. They were not just about having a bit of breathing space and relief from the pressures that people immediately face, but action to start the long-term fix to our housing, including help for first-time buyers who do not have the backing of mum and dad and help to get council and social housing built in this country.
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The reply mentions rent allowance in the context of the Budget, then moves on to first-time buyers and council housing. It does not say whether the Chancellor agrees that rent support should be tied to actual rent levels, which was the central point of the question. The answer is generic and would likely prompt the asker to submit a follow-up asking the same thing more directly.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Chancellor agrees with the national charities and Citizens Advice that rent support must be tied to actual rent levels. | Partially Addressed | Generic | The reply mentions rent allowance as part of the Budget and then pivots to first-time buyers and council housing, but it never states whether the Chancellor agrees that rent support must be tied to actual rent levels. Its only link to the item is the bare reference to rent allowance, so the core question goes unanswered. |