Official tells minister of benefit cap fears

摘要

One of Eric Pickles' senior officials expressed concerns that the coalition's planned overall household benefits cap of £26,000 a year would cause 'very serious practical issues' for his department's priorities, according to a leaked memo. The letter was written in January by Mr Pickles' private secretary, Nico Heslop, and sent using official channels to the prime minister's equivalent official, Matthew Style. It voices worries that additional costs to local authorities through homelessness and temporary accommodation had not been taken into account in calculating £270m annual savings forecast from 2014/15.