SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said the British government's proposed Housing Benefit reforms will cause untold misery for many families in Derry.

The government's so-called "bedroom tax" will reduce the amount of housing benefit support that can be given to tenants by introducing new size criteria for Housing Benefit claimants who have extra bedrooms. People who are judged to be “under occupying” their home by one or more bedrooms will have their housing benefit slashed.

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Mr Durkan, who voted against the government's so-called "bedroom tax" at Westminster this week, said: "The government needs to see sense and look again at the devastating impact that their proposed under-occupancy measures or so-called 'bedroom tax' will have on some of the most vulnerable people in society, not least on people here in Derry.

"Their proposals will push hundreds of people in the city who are living in social housing into financial hardship or out of their homes - causing considerable disruption to families.

"The new criteria for under occupation could also mean that ill or disabled people, who use a spare bedroom for example for medical equipment, could also be affected.

"The combined effects of the government's under-occupation penalty, the under-35 years of age room-sharing and other changes including curtailment of direct payments to landlords will hurt many people here in the city."

(CD/GK)