Archbishop Nichols voices concern over proposed welfare reforms

Archbishop Vincent Nichols

The Archbishop of Westminster has written to Work and Pensions Minister Iain Duncan Smith expressing his concern over the potential impact of new and planned government welfare policies on the most vulnerable members of society.

In a strongly worded letter, Archbishop Vincent Nichols refers to the department's own figures which show 50,000 families losing £93 a week as a result of the welfare reforms.

A significant sum for those struggling financially," writes the Archbishop. "As you know some estimates that have already appeared in the media suggest 40,000 families may be rendered homeless. If this were indeed the case it would surely be a perverse result of policies aimed at reducing dependency of the 'benefits culture' since emergency support would immediately need to be put in place," writes Archbishop Nichols, who refers to reports coming in from the Caritas Social Action Network regarding growing concerns over the repercussions of the changes and the effect they are having on making social problems worse.

The Archbishop quotes the De Paul Trust, a member of CSAN, reporting homelessness increasing for the first time in 10 years and youth homelessness rising by 15 per cent in the last 12 months.

"In some areas of my own diocese of Westminster, it is being suggested that one in six children may have to move home (and probably move school), while in Maida Vale the effects may force up to 43 per cent of households to move. We fear that the cost of this may be felt most by vulnerable families, whose support networks may rapidly disappear in the process," writes Archbishop Nichols. "It would be very helpful to have your assurance that steps are available and being taken to ensure that the vulnerable and marginalised in our society will not be disproportionately harmed by the new welfare policies. It seems that a further look at the impact on individuals, in particular those already struggling, is needed to fully determine the effect of the changes on both people and communities."

The Department of Work and Pensions confirmed that Mr Duncan Smith would be replying to the Archbishop's letter.

"Our Housing Benefit reforms are about restoring fairness to a system which has spiralled out of control and ensuring that benefit claimants make the same choices about affordability as everyone else," said a Department of Work and Pensions spokesperson.

"We are not expecting large numbers of households to become homeless through these measures, but we are making an additional £130 million over the next four years available to local authorities through the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme to support vulnerable households and help smooth the transition of the Housing Benefit changes."