UK Benefits spending under review

The British government is reviewing the amount it spends on universal welfare payments such as child benefit and the winter fuel allowance.



Reports indicate that the payments dubbed middle class benefits could be frozen.



However Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, speaking as the coalition marked 100 days in power, said no final decisions had been made.



Another option that could be open to the government is to pay the benefits to all, despite their income, but to taper them so that the poorest in society get the most money.



However government sources have indicated that means testing or ending the universality of such benefits will not happen.