Counting the cost of debt

Problem debt is costing the economy at least £900m a year according to a report by an official watchdog, which said the government has “insufficient” understanding of people’s struggles with the issue.

Out of control debts are also costing the taxpayer around ÂŁ248m a year because of knock on pressure to health and housing services, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).

The full cost of problem debt could not be calculated because of gaps in official data in areas such as employment and benefits, the NAO’s Tackling Problem Debt report said.

The watchdog said there are weaknesses in the government’s strategy for tackling problem debt.

NAO head Amyas Morse said, “Problem debt has significant consequences both for individuals and the taxpayer. While government has made progress in seeking to address this issue, its attempts so far have been insufficient.

“The Treasury needs a better understanding of the scale of people’s debt problems and how it is impacting their lives and the taxpayer so it can effectively resolve the problem.”

Around 8.3m people in the UK suffer from problem debt, which is the inability to pay household bills and debts, while four in ten people have difficultly managing their day to day spending, the report said.

The Treasury heads up policies for tackling problem debt while working with other organisations, however there are “weak links” in its strategy that are making the issue more difficult to deal with, the NAO said.

Responding to the report, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said, “The National Audit Office has highlighted serious flaws in how the government monitors information and handles the crisis in problem debt. The recent collapse of Wonga has yet again shown the need for better regulation of consumer lending.”

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said debt and its “pernicious effects” on struggling individuals and the financial wellbeing of the wider society is a symptom of a deeper problem with the economy.

“Under the Tories we have seen insecure low wage work rocket, while the social safety net and public services have been cut to the bone. For many people, working simply does not pay enough for them to live,” Turner said.

Pointing to the conclusions of the Commission on Economic Justice report released this week, Turner argued that it was time to move away from the “short-termism” that dominates the UK’s economy.

He said, “To do this we need to close the employment law and tax loopholes that allow big business to fill their pockets at the expense of workers and get out of paying their fair share to the state.”

“In addition, we need to properly fund public services and implement an industrial strategy that sees government invest in the infrastructure and industries that will create a productive economy built on decent and secure jobs.”