§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the cost to social services departments of local authorities of accommodating homeless families in bed and breakfast accommodation; and what government assistance is made available.
§ Lord GlenarthurNo information is available centrally about the cost to social services departments.
Partial information is available about the cost of bed and breakfast accommodation to 349 out of 401 housing authorities in England and Wales in the homelessness statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. In 1981–82 their gross expenditure was £5.3 million, income £1.0 million, net expenditure £4.3 million. The figures exclude any apportionment of central or departmental administration costs. No information is available on how much of the expenditure related to families.
No direct government assistance is given to authorities towards these costs but an indirect contribution is made through the rate support grant.
Homeless families can be asked to contribute towards bed and breakfast costs from their income, including social security benefits, if these are in payment.