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Alexander floats possible rethink on benefits

Alexander floats possible rethink on benefits
Paying benefits on a monthly basis rather than weekly might turn out not to be workable, Danny Alexander has admitted.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury told the Lib Dem conference that if pilots by DCLG showed problems with the Universal Credit there would need to be a "rethink" on the policy.

"The fear is a lot of people will default on their rent. If that fear is borne out then we need to think about the policy," he told delegates. 

In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Alexander also joined Vince Cable in pledging to vote against Tory plans for a two-year freeze to benefit payments, saying it is “not a place we should be looking at”. At conference he expressed further doubts about the scale benefit cuts.

"I am definitely not signed up to 10bn as a Target figure but nor do I believe that the welfare budget can be totally ringfenced on future welfare cuts."

The MPs' Lib Dem colleague David Laws told BBC News a freeze on benefits would not be "sensible".

Green Box: Alexander floats possible rethink on benefitsClick to open

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