Clergyman believes chagnes will see a surge in homelessness and child poverty

The Bishop of Willesden has condemned the coalition Government’s cuts.

Earlier this week, 18 Church of England bishops in the House of Lords demanded ministers rethink their plan to impose benefit caps on families.

They believe limiting the amount any household can claim will lead to more homelessness and child poverty.

Peter Broadbent, the Bishop of Willesden, agrees with his fellow clergymen and is worried about the impact cuts will have on children. He said: “I’m really worried about the effect of these welfare reforms on the weakest and most vulnerable in our society.

“I and my fellow Bishops want justice for the have-nots, the voiceless, the vulnerable and particularly children.

“The Government needs to listen to these concerns, particularly about child benefit.”

Brent is said to be one of the boroughs where some 30 per cent of families will not be able to afford their current rent because it has a greater proportion of larger households.

The maximum Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates will be capped at �250 a week for a one bed; �290 for a two bed; �340 for a three bed and �400 for a four bed property.

But a Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “It simply isn’t fair that households on out-of- work benefits can receive a greater income from the state than the average working household gets in wages. This is why we have proposed a benefit cap of around �500 per week for couple and single parent households – that’s the equivalent of a salary of �35,000 a year before tax.”

“Many working-age families with adults in work cannot afford to live in central London, for example, and it is not right for the taxpayer to subsidise households on out of work benefits who do.”