HC Deb 06 February 1974 vol 868 cc1206-8
15. Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on homelessness.

Mr. Channon

A circular in the joint names of my right hon. and learned Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will be sent to local authorities tomorrow on this subject.

This circular stresses the need for local authorities to do more to prevent homelessness and to deal promptly with cases which occur. In particular it recommends that housing authorities should take the lead in this work and that there should be the fullest co-operation with both social service authorities and voluntary bodies.

Mr. Steel

That is a most important announcement that the Minister has made. Does he accept that the legislative backing for local authorities to deal with homelessness is weaker under the recent local government legislation, both in England and in Scotland, than it was under the 1948 Act? Will he assure us that if this circular does not correct that deficiency—I notice that it does not extend to Scotland—he will consider further legislation if he finds that the circular itself does not lead to the result he obviously seeks?

Mr. Channon

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will be kind enough to await the circular. There has been a widespread misunderstanding of the effect of the Local Government Act on the statutory provisions to deal with homelessness. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Services and other Ministers have told Parliament that the duty on the social services authority will be maintained through a direction to be issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. He intends to issue such a direction next week.

Miss Fookes

What is my hon. Friend's definition of "homelessness"?

Mr. Channon

Perhaps I could send my hon. Friend a copy of the circular, because I do not think I could answer her question sufficiently shortly at Question Time.

Mr. Freeson

Will the Minister tell the House when the Government intend to keep the pledge they made in their manifesto in 1970 to redefine the term "homelessness" to make it more accurately acted upon? May I ask him again whether he will refer to all the reports received by his Department from all over the country—from statutory and non-statutory bodies—urging that the biggest single cause of homelessness in inner city areas in particular arises from lack of security for furnished tenants?

Mr. Channon

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that in London the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health and Social Security and the London Boroughs Association have a new system of statistics to provide a more realistic picture of the homelessness problem. This system was introduced on 1st January of this year. I hope that it will be possible to introduce it throughout the whole of the country, and talks are going on with the local authority associations to this end.

As regards the second point, I do not think I can add to my previous answers on the topic. I know that the hon. Gentleman holds his view strongly. I hold strongly to the view that the action he is pressing upon me would after the first few months of initial success lead to more rather than less homelessness.