SDLP Leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell has said that Alex Maskey, the Chair of the Social Development Committee, must clarify the terms of an agreement he says Sinn Fein and the DUP have reached on bedroom tax.

Dr McDonnell said: "Last week Alex Maskey stated an agreement had been reached between Sinn Fein and the DUP which means that the bedroom tax policy will not apply to existing tenants.

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"Clarity is required as to the terms of the deal struck by Sinn Fein and the DUP. Crucially will new tenants have the arbitrary and unfair bedroom tax policy imposed on them?

"With welfare reform likely to come before the assembly in the autumn the SDLP are determined to see that the harshest elements of reform are challenged and where necessary rejected.

"Sinn Fein and DUP deals to soften the bedroom tax policy will only throw people into further uncertainty about how the tax may affect them and their homes. There can be no compromise on bedroom tax; it must be blocked in its entirety."

(CD/JP)