§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the impact of(a) single people's and (b) lone parents' ability to pay their housing costs in their decision to (i) take up work and (ii) increase their hours of work; and what plans she has to take action on this issue. [8808]
Mr. BradleyWe recognise that concern about housing costs is a factor which single people and lone parents may take into account in decisions about taking up work or increasing their working hours.
We believe that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. We have appointed Martin Taylor, Chief Executive of Barclays plc, to spearhead a Whitehall task force to consider these issues and make recommendations.