Stephen Timms MP, Labour’s acting Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on new DWP figures which show a 15 per cent rise in Housing Benefit overpayments, said:

“These new figures show the Tories’ failure to tackle overpayment of Housing Benefit is costing over £1.5 billion, up by more than a fifth over the past year.

“Rising Housing Benefit overpayments are another example of Tory Welfare Waste.”