This year is turning-out to be a bad year for many people in the Caerphilly Borough. More than in most parts of the country, Caerphilly Borough is very dependent on public expenditure. The public sector as a whole employs far more people than the private sector, and a large number of people are dependent, in one way or another, on the support of the state.
Thanks to the Labour-led Welsh Government, Caerphilly Borough will be shielded for the time being from some of the cuts, particularly as far as the local Council is concerned. But this year will see the introduction of a whole range of public spending cuts being introduced by the Conservative-led Government in Westminster.
These cuts are not being introduced at the same time and many of the reductions are complicated. The end result however is the same – many thousands of people throughout the borough are going to be made worse-off as a direct result of Government decisions.
A number of these cuts will come into effect on 1 April 2013. One of those is the so-called ‘bedroom tax’. This will have a huge impact on many people living in public sector housing. For example, if a couple in their late middle age live in a 3 bedroom council house and their children have left home, they may well face a significant increase in their outgoings. This will apply if the family income is low and they are in receipt of Housing Benefit.
The Government would like people to move into accommodation with fewer bedrooms but the problem is that Caerphilly County Borough Council has very few one and two bedroom properties and has been prevented by the Government from building new properties. The situation is slightly easier with Housing Associations but nevertheless we are likely to see a significant increase in private landlords. Another alternative, according to the government, is for people who can’t pay the extra is to take in a lodger!
Another cut will be focused on people with disabilities. The Government is moving to a different system to help people with disabilities based on so-called Personal Independence Payments. It is likely that many people who have been in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will either no longer qualify or will have a sharp reduction in that support.
These are just two of a number of changes which will be introduced over the next few months. They will have a hugely negative impact on many thousands of people in the Caerphilly Borough. Inevitably people will be angry, especially when they realise that millionaires will be getting a reduction in their tax.
Wayne David
Labour MP for Caerphilly
I have to totally agree with the comments that Wayne has made. I was shocked this morning when I received a letter from the DWP to find that in real terms my pension will decrease because way beck in the 70's when the TORYs' were in power they introduced GPC; now, they are deducting the extra amount we should have received for this.
I have also been shocked that my wife; at the age of 61, this year; who is disabled. Born with twisted hips. One hip replaced, awaiting total knee replacement on other leg, type two diabetes, suffering from chronic arthritus; has been passed fit for work. She is unable to drive because of this so how can she get to work. She is unable to walk up the hill to catch a bus and with myself; age 71; under going treatment for thyroid cancer, can not always guarantee that I will be available to drive her anywhere.
Is this government trying to kill us old uns off. It would suit their purpose.
There is an obvious solution to this problem. Deport all those immigrants who have arrived in this country to sponge off us and get us out of Europe and continue the success we had when we traded with commonwealth countries
If I were 30 years younger and knew what I know now I would let this country drown. I served 25 years in the forces to get what. NOTHING. The same as those serving are getting now when they return from duty either physically or mentally wounded.
Wayne David is absolutely correct in his warning about additional rent costs to people living in homes judged to be too big for them by the Tory Lib-Dem London Government.
These addition amounts will be collectable from 1st April, and if those who find they are being charged this `extra` rent do not start to pay the addition money from that day they will find themselves in serious `rent` arrears, the consequences to such people will by dire.
Will we see Caerphilly borough council and the locally Based Housing Associations evicting people for ` rent arrears` if the top up amounts are not paid and arrears accumulate as a result??
The Government have said today that there is already an 800% increase in homelessness in England and Wales over the last two years, will these increased household financial pressures add to those figures in Wales?, and, if they do, will the local ratepayers have to foot the bill for Bed and Breakfast Accommodation for those families made homeless by this obnoxious `tax`, particularly in the case of aged, disabled and sick tenants who maybe displaced as a result?.