London's benefit cap councils 'not guinea pigs'

Four London councils piloting the £26,000 a year benefit cap are not "guinea pigs", the welfare secretary has said.

Labour's Tottenham MP David Lammy said boroughs taking part should be helped for being used as "guinea pigs".

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith insisted councils would benefit from testing the policy, learning valuable lessons.

Haringey, Bromley, Croydon and Enfield will take part in the pilot next month.

Mr Lammy, speaking at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) questions in the Commons, said: "You will be aware you have decided to move forward with your benefit cap in four pilot areas in London.

"How much have you decided you are going to compensate Haringey Council for making them a guinea pig in this way?"

Mr Duncan Smith said: "I don't believe there is any need to compensate anybody, we have already said to all those councils they are not being guinea pigs - they are actually getting very close support and advice.

"I think this will be a tremendous success story. What they are doing is learning along with us but what we have to say is any extra costs or expenses, as we have already said, we would support them through that.

"The reality is the cap is absolutely right, the public support it because they are tired of seeing people getting more benefit than those who are in work.

"Setting the cap is right, you need to ask why do Labour keep voting against it?"

Household benefits are to be capped at £26,000 per year, equivalent to £500 a week, as part of the government's wider welfare reforms.

The cap includes housing benefit and opponents of the plan have claimed it could force people out of high rent areas, such as London.