Sutton tenants denied chance to have their say - Burstow

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Aug 2008

Local MP Paul Burstow has expressed his outrage that Housing Minister Caroline Flint MP has not kept her promise to invite the Sutton Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations (SFTRA) to contribute to the current housing review.

During a House of Commons debate earlier this year Mr Burstow challenged the Government to consult the borough's tenants about what he described as a stealth tax on tenants, and afterwards received a letter from Housing Minister, Caroline Flint MP, promising an invite to participate in the review. But SFTRA have yet to receive the invite.

Mr Burstow said:

"It is an outrage that Sutton's tenants are being denied their chance to have a say. The system of housing subsidy means that the borough's tenants pay a large part of their rent to the Government.

"Nationally the government is now collecting more from council tenants than it pays out. This is yet another stealth tax and it is hitting some of the poorest in our community.

"I have contacted the Minister's office today and they have promised that SFTRA will be receiving the invitation soon. Even though we are only at the consultation stage, the fact that the Minister is having to be reminded of her promise to consult with Sutton's tenants over two months after she made it, does not bode well for the outcome of the review."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

You can find Paul Burstow's comments during the Whitsun day Adjournment Debate here (from Column 421): http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080522/debtext/80522-0007.htm