Alex Neil slams sex offenders bedroom tax loophole

• Paedophiles and rapists will be exempt from the bedroom tax, according to a DWP whistleblower

• Health Secretary Alex Neil condemns tax as “daft and unfair”

A loophole in the coalition’s new scheme will see thousands of paedophiles and rapists exempted from paying the levy, according to a Department for Work and Pensions whistleblower.

Neil, who was contacted by the anonymous DWP employee, said: “When hard-working people who are being forced to pay the bedroom tax realise that convicted sex offenders are often exempt they will be very angry indeed.

“This just shows how daft and unfair this tax is in the first place and it should be scrapped immediately,” Neil told the Daily Record.

“The tax is riddled with loopholes and contradictions - it doesn’t make any sense to penalise hard-working people in this way.

“It will also force many families out on to the street with nowhere to go.”

According to the DWP source, sex offenders living in large properties will not have their housing benefit cut because they would be unable to let their rooms out to lodgers and are difficult to rehouse.

Neil added that the SNP would scrap the policy if Scots vote for independence next year.

Airdrie councillor Michael Coyle added his voice to the condemnation of the loophole, saying that he was concerned that sex offenders would be given “preferential treatment.”

“I am really worried this money [the DWP has given £10 million in discretionary funds to help vulnerable tenants], which isn’t much when it’s split between all Scotland’s councils, will be used for sex offenders.

“A system that gives preferential treatment to sex offenders is sickening.”

A DWP spokesman refused to comment on the loophole, but said: “With many thousands of people on housing waiting lists, we need to end the spare room subsidy and ensure a better use of social housing.

“Councils in Scotland have been given an extra £10 million this year for discretionary housing payments to help people in difficult situations.”

The bedroom tax, which takes effect from today, is targeted at tenants on housing benefit deemed to have a spare room. Tenants with a spare room face a 14 per cent cut from their housing benefit, and a 25 per cent cut for having two spare rooms.

The government aim to save £23 billion with the scheme and free up living space for overcrowded families while also encouraging people to get jobs.

But critics of the tax have pointed out that there are not enough suitable homes available for families to move into in order to evade the charge.