SIR - The phrase goes, “A good day for burying bad Government news” and perhaps recent days have provided just such an opportunity.
Last year it was announced by Chancellor George Osborne that the newly unemployed would have to wait a full week before making a benefit claim rather than three days at present.
But a new impact assessment by the Government’s social security advisory committee has just revealed 280,000 new recipients of Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will bear the brunt of the cuts.
Former Labour minister, Frank Field who has acted as the present Government’s anti-poverty adviser said: “The Government is pushing a quarter of a million poor people towards a financial black hole..(where)...the only option left...is to fall prey to payday lenders.
“Does the Government intend to be the recruiting sergeant for the pay-day lending industry?
How else will they...put food on the table?”
David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose
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