HC Deb 08 May 1973 vol 856 cc191-4
19. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of Social Services what recent discussion he has had with the London Boroughs Association on the question of homelessness in London.

Sir K. Joseph

My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction and I met the London Boroughs Association, with the Greater London Council, in January to discuss progress in implementing the recommendations of the first report by the joint working party on homeless-ness in London, and practical ways of reducing family homelessness and making more dwellings available to meet the need. Maximum use of unoccupied and short-life property was among the matters discussed. The suggestions made at the meeting are being followed up and a working party has been set up to improve the information collected about homelessness. We shall be glad to meet the London authorities again as soon as they are ready.

Mr. Cox

While I welcome that statement, may I ask whether the Minister is fully aware of the extent of homelessness in London? Is he aware that it increases week by week, generally because of the vicious activities of certain landlords and property developers? That is what is causing homelessness, which in its wake presents many problems to local authorities. What financial help does the right hon. Gentleman intend to give to local authorities in the London area which are facing the expense of providing accommodation for people once they have been hounded out of their home?

Sir K. Joseph

I certainly agree about, and am well aware of, the distressing amount of homelessness in London. One of the recommendations that the Government are considering making to local authorities is that the responsibility for dealing with the homeless should be with the housing departments, which dispose of considerable re-lets and housing stock. But it is a very complex and difficult question. I should not presume to make any statements about panaceas, because there is none in this area. We shall be ready to meet the authorities as soon as they are ready.

20. Mr. Stallard

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representation has been made to him by Inner London borough councils on the increase of homelessness in their boroughs.

Sir K. Joseph

I am well aware of the pressure of homelessness in the Inner London boroughs. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction and I met representatives of the Greater London Council and the London Boroughs Association earlier this year and discussed the problem of homeless families in detail. Several Inner London boroughs have shown concern about particular problems of family or individual homelessness.

Mr. Stallard

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the major causes of the increase in homelessness, certainly in the part of Inner London that I know best, is the activities of winklers and speculators, who are rapidly eroding the supply of rented and furnished accommodation, which is needed so much for people in dire need? Is he aware of the increase of the squatting problem in many of our Inner London boroughs? When he next meets his right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, will he try to shake him out of his smug, complacent approach to the whole problem, and try to find urgent solutions?

Sir K. Joseph

I do not think that any of my colleagues or I need shaking out of complacency. I was interested that the hon. Gentleman, with all his undoubtedly sincere interest and good will, does not have any panaceas to suggest, because there is none. We are in discussion with the local authorities to use every practical means to improve the position.

Mr. Robert Cooke

Will my right hon. Friend consult my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment about the under-occupation of many of the larger accommodation units in our big cities? People are afraid to let part of their houses because of the difficulty of rent control and that kind of thing, and the existing stock of accommodation units is largely underused in many places.

Sir K. Joseph

My hon. Friend tempts me out of my present responsibilities. When I was Minister of Housing, under-occupation was one of the great factors in the housing position.

Mr. Freeson

Within his own jurisdiction, will the right hon. Gentleman investigate with the regional hospital boards of our big cities the acreage of land that is redundant and being held against the possibility of development in the years to come, land that could very urgently be made available for housing, and particularly the possibility of housing for the chronically sick and disabled, who require frequent and regular weekly hospital servicing?

Sir K. Joseph

I very much agree with the hon. Gentleman that that should be a source of land in some cases. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular hospital in mind, perhaps he will write to me. Since the Government came into office we have done a systematic survey of suitable land, and release is increasing in pace.

Mr. Winterton

Is my right hon. Friend prepared to comment on the part that the shortage of single-person accommodation plays in the overall problem of homelessness, not only in Inner London but elsewhere? Surely, if he urged local authorities to provide much more single-person accommodation and much more special accommodation for old people, that would to some degree resolve much of the homelessness that persists today.

Sir K. Joseph

Yes, Sir. I very much agree that, in the common interest I share in housing, more sheltered housing for the elderly would be a great blessing. Homelessness for the single is a problem in its own right, and has largely been exacerbated by the falling number of lodgings. The Government are taking steps to encourage both local authorities and voluntary bodies to provide more accommodation for the single homeless.