'Bedroom Tax'/under-occupancy charge
A significant focus of the Welfare Reform Committee's work and scrutiny has been on the 'bedroom tax'/under-occupancy charge. The Committee has held several evidence sessions inquiring into various aspects of the 'bedroom tax'/under-occupancy charge. In addition, the Committee has commissioned research on the impact of the 'bedroom tax' in Scotland.
On 31 January 2014 the Committee published its Interim Report which sets out the Committee’s findings and recommendations on the ‘bedroom tax’.
Interim Report on the 'Bedroom Tax'
News release
Scottish Government response to the 'Bedroom Tax' report - 7 March 2014
Scottish Government statistical update on the 'Bedroom Tax' report
Watch a video interview with Committee Convener Michael McMahon MSP and Deputy Committee Convener Jamie Hepburn MSP on the committee's interim report on the ‘bedroom tax’.
The work that the Committee has undertaken to date on this topic is set out below.
Meetings:
28 May 2013 - The Committee took evidence from Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commision. During this evidence session, Alan Miller talks about the human rights implications of the 'bedroom tax'/under-occupancy charge, which can be viewed in cols 784 - 788 in the official report.
10 Sep 2013 - The Committee held a 'Your Say' session specifically focussing on the 'bedroom tax'/under-occupancy charge. Three witnesses shared with the Committee their personal experiences of how the 'bedroom tax'/under-occupancy charge has affected them. Official report.
1 Oct 2013 - The Committee invited the Expert Working Group on Welfare and Constitutional Reform to give evidence. In Cols 923 - 943 of the official report, there is a discussion about what could potentially happen with the 'bedroom tax'/under-occupancy charge in a transition to an independent Scotland.
29 Oct 2013 - In this evidence session with the Minister for Housing and Welfare, a discussion surrounding the Scottish Governemnt's £20 million funding of Discetionary Housing Payments (DHP) to aid mitigating the 'bedroom tax'/under-occupancy charge can be viewed at Cols 1005 - 1027 in the official report.
5 Nov 2013 - Professor Ken Gibb of Glasgow University provided evidence on the research report the Committee commisioned from him on the 'Bedroom Tax' in Scotland. Official report.
12 Nov 2013 - The Committee considered petition-PE01468 by Mike Dailly on behalf of the Govan Law Centre, on Evictions due to under occupation deductions. Mike Dailly and his colleagues were followed by a panel of housing association representatives to discuss the petition. This discussion can viewed in the official report.
19 Nov 2013 - The Committee took evidence from local authorites on the implementation of Discretionary Housing Payments Cols 1124 - 1147 official report.
28 January 2014 - The Committee considered petition PE1496 on Bedroom Tax Mitigation. Petitioner Alan Wyllie and his colleague Jack Ferguson representing BedroomTaxNo2 Campaign were followed by a panel to discuss the petition. This discussion can be viewed in the official report
Correspondence:
Report:
In June 2013, the Committee commisioned research on the impact of the 'Bedrrom tax' in Scotland from Kenneth Gibb, Professor in Housing Economics and Director of the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow. This report was published on 19 October 2013 - The 'Bedroom Tax' in Scotland
Bedroom Tax/under-occupancy charge Committee report - material:
28 May
10 Sep
1 Oct
12 Nov
19 Nov
3 Dec
28 Jan