PMQs - as it happened: Theresa May announces major U-turn on housing benefit cap

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Theresa May during Prime Minister's Questions (AFP/Getty)

Welcome to The Independent’s live blog on the latest developments from Prime Minister’s Questions.

Following Tuesday’s emergency debate on Universal Credit, Mr Corbyn dedicated a number of his questions to the rollout of the Government’s flagship welfare scheme and asked whether Theresa May would “respect the will of the House”. The Prime Minister refused to accept Mr Corbyn’s comments and said the Government was gradually phasing in Universal Credit.

But one the most significant issues during the session came before the Labour leader’s questions as the Prime Minister announced a major U-turn on the housing benefit cap for elderly and vulnerable people.

The Prime Minister prompted cheers when she announced the Government would not roll out changes that would see people living in social housing having their housing benefit capped in line with the private rented sector.

The proposed cap, which was due to be introduced in April 2019, also prompted warnings from supported housing providers that it could put their viability at risk.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, she said: “I can also say today that as part of our response to the review, we will not apply the Local Housing Allowance cap to supported housing.

“Indeed we will not be implementing it in the wider social rented sector and the full details will be made available when we publish our response to the consultation.”