I lived in a council house for 7 years til I left home -- my mother lived there those 7 years and a subsequent 9 years before she died. Council housing saved us from living in a slum (2 up, 2 down and an outside loo .... the Brits will know the reference). We considered the council house heaven on earth and it did not come lightly or easily. We had to fight to get it. I have never heard of a young mum just being moved into a council house because she is pregnant. Many council flats are hideous -- they may fob these off on the young pregnant girls. Oops - no more council houses - I forgot. So one of the best thing about the British system has gone away. One can probably find isolated instances of abuse but the British decided (as is reflected in their health system) that they wouldn't pour millions into bureaucracy to check that a nickel is never spent in error. Give me a break -- SOME PEOPLE NEED A BREAK........if you are eating and housed and paying your bills, what the hell do you care........