The Welsh Assembly is demanding that the government lets it opt out of plans to dock the housing benefit of antisocial tenants.
Edwina Hart, the Welsh minister for social justice, has written in protest to deputy prime minister John Prescott. She is backed by an assembly committee on antisocial behaviour and Plaid Cymru, the main opposition party, which called the plans "unacceptable".

The assembly's alternative is that antisocial residents should be offered support and education. Hart told the committee: "The proposals do not fall into line with the educational approach we would wish to see in Wales."

The issue rose to prominence after Plaid Cymru's annual conference last month, where it was pointed out that Westminster's plans could interfere with powers devolved to Cardiff.

The Welsh Assembly argues that Wales has the right to opt out. However, the Housing Bill – which is currently being steered through parliament and seems likely to include the plans for benefit docking – allows Cardiff to issue guidance to landlords on how to apply the powers. So in theory, even if enacted by Westminster, the Welsh could choose not to use the bill's provisions.

Peter Black, Wales' former Liberal Democrat deputy housing minister, said: "Withdrawing benefit will harm families and lead to more homelessness."

Assembly housing director John Bader said: "We are pushing for the widest powers to deal with this."

Source

Housing Today