HC Deb 10 May 1978 vol 949 cc1170-3
11. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the working of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Ernest Armstrong)

Although it is less than six months since the Act came into force, it is already apparent that it has been of significant benefit to a great many homeless people. A clearer picture of its effect on the problem of homelessness generally, and of any difficulties which have been found in operating it, will begin to emerge in the coming months, particularly when the statistics for the first four months of operation have been collected and analysed.

Miss Fookes

Would not the problem of homelessness be much reduced if people who owned houses that are much too large for them could be encouraged to take in people, instead of being deterred, as they are now, by the current legislation?

Mr. Armstrong

I do not think that that would make a significant contribution to solving the problem of homelessness. I do not accept that people are deterred in that way because of the legislation.

Miss Joan Lestor

Will my hon. Friend confirm that it was never the intention of the Act to enable an authority to offer homeless people coming into the borough the fare to return home, either within or outside the country? Will he therefore keep a weather eye on what the Tory council in Slough is doing, in order to see that it honours its obligations under the Act?

Mr. Armstrong

I confirm what my hon. Friend said. We have been disturbed by some of the statements that we have read in the Press. There must be no discrimination at all on grounds of nationality or citizenship, once a person arrives in this country properly. I assure my hon. Friend that we shall keep an eye on these matters.

Mr. Evelyn King

Does the Minister accept that however well intentioned this Act was—and it was well intentioned— it can operate with grave injustice in rural and tourist areas? In these areas the summer population is often enormous and the winter population is very small. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that tourists—who are often young—come into the area, claim to be homeless, and are rehoused, which means that the residents who have been on the list for many years are put at a grave disadvantage? Is he also aware that the authority in question has to bear considerable expense, which is very unfair?

Mr. Armstrong

We are collecting statistics, as the Act has only been in force since 1st December. Over the years the bulk of housing authorities have had to make judgments about urgency cases and people in desperate need. Homelessness is the most acute form of housing need and I hope that it will continue to be handled with sensitivity and humanity.

Mr. Douglas-Mann

Does my hon. Friend agree that there is widespread misunderstanding about the effects of the 1974 Rent Act and of the extent to which it provides substantial security for landlords of occupied property? Will he embark on a publicity programme to encourage the owners of residential property to provide accommodation for letting in their homes, beause this could contribute to the relief of the problems to which the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) referred?

Mr. Armstrong

I agree that there are some landlords who, because they have misunderstood the effects of the 1974 legislation, have been hesitant. We are doing our best to let them know their rights in these matters.

Mr. Rossi

Does the Minister agree that particular authorities have special problems under the Act—namely, the recipient authorities of people from other boroughs and from overseas? This applies both to the Slough situation and to the tourist areas. Does he further agree that the answer is to make more resources available to those authorities with special problems? Is he not receiving representations to that effect?

Mr. Armstrong

We are analysing the effects of the Act over the first four months. Obviously there are particular authorities that have special problems. A number of enlightened authorities have, for four years, carried out the spirit of the circular that was issued in 1974. If they approach these matters with humanity they can find reasonable solutions.