§ 10. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of his working party on homelessness in London.
§ Mr. SpearingCan the hon. Gentleman assure us that the working party will analyse the housing market in London? Does not he agree that, whatever the merits or demerits of competition in other activities, greater competition for housing in London will only increase the number of homeless, particularly among lower-paid workers with families?
§ Mr. DeanThe working party has wide terms of reference. I assure the hon. Gentleman that it is proceeding 1153 with its work as quickly as possible. It had its first meeting on 11th March, and has already met six times.
§ Mr. LiptonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the problem of homelessness in London is approaching disastrous dimensions? Will he bear in mind, for example, that the number of homeless persons in the borough of Lambeth who had to be given temporary accommodation went up from 1,001 in 1967 to 1,213 in 1970? If further evidence is required of the urgency of the problem, those figures alone should ginger up the Government into taking speedy action.
§ Mr. DeanThere is no complacency on the Government's part. There is a serious problem here, and it is being tackled both by my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who is primarily responsible here.