To ask the Minister for Social Development whether the commitment in A Fresh Start agreement not to apply the bedroom tax will be enacted by his Department declining to introduce subordinate legislation that would maintain parity in this regard, namely the Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

As agreed in ‘A Fresh Start: the Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan’ the Social Sector Size Criteria will not apply in Northern Ireland. Following receipt of the Welfare Reform Mitigations Working Group report led by Eileen Evason, officials are currently considering options, which will deliver the Executive’s commitment that current and future claimants will not be impacted by the Social Sector Size Criteria. This work also involves considering any legislative changes that may be required.