Kevin Stewart MSP Aberdeen Central. 13 th March Rt Hon George Osborne MP HM Treasury 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ.

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1 13 th March 2012 Rt Hon George Osborne MP HM Treasury 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ Dear Mr Osborne The Bedroom Tax Axe the Tax We are writing to you to make a plea on behalf of the thousands of Scots who will be affected by the UK Government s Bedroom Tax. We ask that you, as Chancellor, reconsider the inclusion of measure in this year s budget. This measure, alongside the other damaging cuts to the Welfare Budget, will negatively impact on disabled people and the most vulnerable groups in our society. 80% of those affected by the under occupancy tax on benefits in Scotland are disabled people, and an exemption for Disabled Children does not go far enough. Disabled people in our society should be able to live in a dignified manner with the support of our Government however the statistics reveal who the real victims of this unfair tax will be. 90 per cent of Scotland s MPs voted against the implementation of the Bedroom tax, and yet as the situation stands it is set to be imposed on the people of Scotland. The Bedroom Tax is not only a direct attack on disabled people, but it has been proven to be a more costly measure than the existing Housing Benefit regulations. Lord Freud suggested that those who currently under-occupy their property should move to private sector accommodation which is more expensive to the tax payer. Many clients of supported accommodation providers are refusing to accept offers of 2 bedroom + houses due to the bedroom tax penalties there is then a backlog from those in institutionalised care, who are ready to move in to supported accommodation who can t. This is at a cost to the National Health Service of around 600 per day for those who cannot move out of their hospital bed. This policy will no doubt lead to rent arrears, which will cost Local Government budgets in the short term, but will be passed on to the rent payer through increased rents in the

2 social housing sector. The knock on effect of this measure is quite simply appalling and more people in our country will be affected than just those under-occupying properties. Children in our country are also set to be affected as their parents are forced to move in to smaller accommodation which might see them sleeping on a sofa when they visit their non-resident parent. Our children deserve better as do their parents and carers. While people of Pension Credit Qualifying Age are not currently subject to the under occupancy rule, the introduction of Universal Credit will have implications for mixed-age couples where one member is of Pension Credit Qualifying Age and one member is not of Qualifying Age. This will put older people with younger partners in a position where they would be better off financially from living alone and deny those who live with a younger partner the support that other older people receive. You have an opportunity to safeguard the lives of disabled people, single parents, carers, children and many more who will be affected by the harsh policy of your Government. You can axe the tax and let people live in their homes for the future as they bring up children and live a dignified life. The people of Scotland should not be penalised for policies which have restricted the housing stock that is available. We urge you to use your budget statement on March 20 th to change the Government s policy on this costly matter. We look forward to your response, Yours sincerely, MSP for Grahame Smith General Secretary STUC

3 Jamie Hepburn MSP MSP for Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Ian Hood Coordinator Learning Disability Alliance Scotland Linda Fabiani MSP MSP for East Kilbride Brian Sloan Age Scotland Annabelle Ewing MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife

4 Leon Wylie Lead Officer Hepatitis Scotland Clare Byrne Vice Chair Spinal Injuries Scotland S Archibald Susan Archibald The Archibald Foundation Simon Hodgson Director Carers Scotland Keith Robertson Disability Access Officer Scottish Disability Equality Forum Morag M Campbell Chairperson Badenoch & Strathspey Disability Access Panel.

5 Lesslie Young Epilepsy Scotland Angela Forbes Manager Advocacy Aberdeen Margo MacDonald MSP MSP for Lothian Satwat Rehman Director One Parent Families Scotland Patrick Harvie MSP MSP for Glasgow Jean Urquhart MSP MSP for Highlands & Islands

6 John Finnie MSP MSP for Highlands & Islands Katrina Michie Shopmobility Aberdeen Ian Welsh Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) Bill Scott Manager Inclusion Scotland Grant Sugden Director Waverley Care Billy Watson SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health)

7 Martin Sime SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) Paul Moore Quarriers Andy Kerr Sense Scotland Barclay Bisset Administration Officer Aberdeen Action on Disability Ltd. Gwyn Morrison Area Manager Sense Scotland