NCB Now: Comment - Welfare proposal could cause more deprivation

First, there is a point of principle here. Welfare provision should bebased on need, not on behaviour. Those receiving housing benefit are, bydefinition, in need of financial assistance. Benefit reductions may makeit impossible for affected parents to provide sufficient financialsupport for their children. This could result in destitution andhomelessness, while in extreme cases it could lead to the children beingtaken into care - a prospect that must sit uncomfortably with theGovernment's commitment to end child poverty.

There is also a point of practice to be considered. It is clear that theGovernment wants to address not only the symptoms, but also the causesof anti-social behaviour, by linking benefit reductions to the offer of"appropriate rehabilitation". A fine intention - but how will this work?Will families have access to specialist provision such as mental healthor substance misuse services? How effective will compulsory programmesbe for those who may already have strained relations with statutoryagencies? What happens if suitable therapeutic programmes are simply notavailable?