Julie Hilling
Main Page: Julie Hilling (Labour - Bolton West)
Thursday 21st October 2010
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(13 years, 6 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Pickles
Absolutely, and I will certainly be willing to go to the chief executive’s leaving party.
Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab)
Does the Minister agree that changes to housing benefit, secure tenancies and the raising of rents will take us back to the “Cathy Come Home” era?
Grant Shapps
No, I do not agree with the hon. Lady and I will tell her this. The last Government used to claim there were just 440 people sleeping on our streets. That is not true. When we came into office we conducted a proper count, and the right figure is 1,247. Hiding the problem is not solving it; this Government are protecting the most vulnerable in society, and that includes the homeless.