To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment of the continuation of the spare room subsidy.

Such an assessment has not been made.

Ministers continue to fulfil the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty and to consider the equality impacts when taking decisions about policy changes.

The removal of the spare room subsidy is an important tool to make better use of the existing social housing stock, enable mobility within the social rented sector as well as strengthening work-incentives.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPS) are available for those who need additional housing support. Since 2011 we have provided almost £1.5billion in DHP’s to local authorities.