HC Deb 07 March 1984 vol 55 cc839-40
5. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will carry out a survey of facilities in bed-and-breakfast hostels used by single homeless claimants with a view to publishing recommended standards of accommodation and amenities in such hostels.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Sir George Young)

No, Sir. Local authorities already have a duty, by virtue of section 70 of the Housing Act 1969, to inspect periodically houses in multiple occupation, which include hostels, in their area. They also have powers to ensure proper standards and amenities there.

Mr. Kirkwood

Is the Minister aware that that is a disappointing answer? Is he further aware that there are serious safety and health risks to single homeless claimants because of overcrowding? This is an urgent matter that will get worse before it gets better, and local authorities cannot handle matters themselves without Government guidance and intervention. Is the Minister aware that such intervention is urgent and necessary?

Sir George Young

One must distinguish between the powers that the House has given to local authorities and the way in which local authorities discharge those powers. In the Housing Acts of 1961, 1964 and 1969 the hon. Gentleman will find a panoply of powers available to local authorities to tackle the problems that he mentioned. I do not accept that it is up to the Government to override the responsibilities of local authorities and to intervene, when authorities have all the powers that they need.

Mr. Winnick

Why is the Minister so complacent, when all the reports show that there is a growing scandal about bed-and-breakfast accommodation, where many people are crammed into one or two rooms? Does he recognise that if local authorities had the funds to build and modernise, which they are now being deprived of, many of our fellow citizens would not need to be housed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation?

Sir George Young

Wide powers are already available to local authorities. They can require the provision of standard amenities in those dwellings, they can limit the number of occupants, and they can take out a control order and run the buildings themselves to protect the health, safety and welfare of their occupants. We had a full debate last Friday on resources for housing, and we demonstrated that not only in the public sector but in the private sector starts are increasing and that the decline in public sector provision, which began under the Labour Administration, has been reversed.

Mr. Alexander

Did my hon. Friend see a recent press report of a landlord who received £2,000 a week from a council by putting 65 people in eight flats in one house? Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the existing rules are being properly enforced, and is there not now a case for a review of the facilities available to all homeless people, not just the single homeless?

Sir George Young

I have seen that report. The council in question was the London borough of Camden, and I understand that the chairman of its housing committee has ordered some urgent investigations into the matter. On the general question of provision for the homeless, the Government have increased the resources available through the Housing Corporation to help the hostel programme. Since 1979–80, 170,000 homeless families have been rehoused permanently under the legislation to which my hon. Friend referred. In addition, 6,000 families have been nominated to housing associations and to new town housing. I assure my hon. Friend that the Government are in no way complacent about this matter and are considering several initiatives to make further progress.

Mr. John Fraser

Is the Minister aware that many homeless families are being accommodated in hotels, which are not amenable to inspection under the Housing Act 1969? Is he aware that many of those families are being accommodated not just by local authorities but by the DHSS? Does he accept the recommendation and suggestion by Shelter that the Government should lay down minimum standards of accommodation, safety and health where families are accommodated in hotels as homeless people?

Sir George Young

The hon. Gentleman is right to point out that hotels are dealt with by legislation different from that which applies to houses in multiple occupation. However, local authorities have a wide range of powers under the Public Health Act 1936, the Food and Drugs Act 1955 and the Fire Precautions Act 1971 to improve standards in hotels. I shall consider what the hon. Gentleman said and write to him if I believe that further action is needed.