Topical Questions

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 11 March 2013.

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Photo of Iain Duncan Smith Iain Duncan Smith The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2:30, 11 March 2013

Again, another hon. Member who does not know the difference between a subsidy and a tax. The reality is that those who do not occupy all the rooms in social housing are being subsidised by many of those who live in overcrowded accommodation. Let me remind the hon. Gentleman—Opposition Members do not like to be reminded—that under local housing allowance for the private social rented sector, which was introduced by the previous Labour Government, people were not allowed to occupy houses that had spare bedrooms.