§ 6. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much his Department is spending on bed and breakfast accommodation in the London borough of Ealing; what was the comparable figure at the beginning of May 1986; how many people and families are involved in each figure; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Nicholas Lyell)Information in the precise form requested is not held centrally. However, 139 I can tell my hon. Friend that the number of families housed in bed and breakfast accommodation in the London borough of Ealing rose from 53 at the end of March 1986 to 375 at the end of September 1986.
§ Mr. GreenwayIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that the new Ealing Labour-controlled council has abolished residence points for people born and bred in Ealing and for those who have lived there for two years? It has forced up the bed and breakfast list from 30, costing £300 a year when the council came to office in May 1986, to an estimated 1,000 costing £5 million in April 1988. The council has created a spurious housing list, drawing people from all over the country on to it. Even if every blade of grass in Ealing were built on, that list could never be met. Will my hon. and learned Friend sympathise with the people of Ealing who face a 65 per cent. rate increase? All council services, including essential services, are at a standstill because the council has quarrelled with its work force—which is on strike—and is threatening to put virtually everyone on the street.
§ Mr. LyellThe costly and inappropriate policies of the London borough of Ealing are becoming well known. The code of guidance, which is issued by the Department of the Environment, emphasises that bed and breakfast accommodation should be used as a last resort and for as short a period as possible.
§ Mr. DobsonCan the Minister confirm that there has been an increase in the number of people accepted as homeless by the London borough of Ealing since the change in control of the council? Will he confirm that no Minister challenges the decisions of the London borough of Ealing and that those people have been properly accepted as homeless under the terms of the legislation, which is binding upon the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues just as much as it is on the London borough of Ealing?
§ Mr. LyellI can confirm that the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families with children is both costly and unsuitable. The guidance that is issued by the Department is that it should be used only as a last resort.