§ 1. Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington, North)What progress has been made in establishing a designated unit to tackle homelessness in London. [73412]
§ The Minister for Local Government and Housing (Ms Hilary Armstrong)The new London rough sleepers unit will be operational from 1 April. It will have the tough target of reducing the number of people sleeping rough in London by two thirds by 2002. Louise Casey, currently deputy director of Shelter, will head the unit.
§ Ms BuckHas my hon. Friend had an opportunity to study "Safe in the City", a research report which identifies the 10 risk factors associated with youth homelessness? Is she aware that the South Kilburn estate, into which I look from my front window, is associated with the highest youth homelessness in London? Can she assure me that support will be given to the agencies, including not just housing authorities but schools and GPs, which aim to cut youth homelessness by tackling its causes?
§ Ms ArmstrongThe "Safe in the City" project is funded by one of the largest single regeneration budget grants ever given—£6 million. It specifically examines the causes of youth homelessness and targets the most vulnerable areas in London. I helped to launch the research report to which my hon. Friend refers. It gives us clues as to what should be done with vulnerable children, who may be as young as 11 or 12. The new unit will work with us to make sure that we prevent vulnerable young people from becoming homeless. That is the most effective way to tackle youth homelessness. I am determined that we will work with all organisations to meet that end.
§ Mr. Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne)Was it really necessary to waste thousands of pounds advertising for a so-called streets tsar to head the unit? Does the Minister remember that the previous Government managed to reduce dramatically the number of rough sleepers on 156 London's streets without the need for a £90,000 tsar? Should not that money be used to change people's lives, not to create more bureaucracy?
§ Ms ArmstrongExactly the opposite is happening. We are cutting through the bureaucracy to make sure that the most vulnerable in London get the assistance that they need to ensure that we reduce rough sleeping by two thirds by 2002. That is an incredibly tough target. It involves Government Departments working effectively together, and it demands that we work effectively with the voluntary sector. One person co-ordinating those efforts will, I believe, make a real difference. I hope that the Opposition will join us in our determination to cut the number of rough sleepers and to do whatever the House can to ensure that the problem does not return.
§ Mr. Andrew Love (Edmonton)Recently, my local authority, the London borough of Enfield, carried out a spot survey and discovered, somewhat to its surprise, 14 rough sleepers. In the borough's budget for the coming year, it has allocated an additional £1 million for homelessness. Will my hon. Friend remember the outer London boroughs and the difficulties that they are beginning to face in dealing with homelessness?
§ Ms ArmstrongWe know that homelessness is not just a problem in inner London. It is prevalent across London and throughout the country. The Government are taking tough action—throughout the country, but particularly in London—to meet the target. I assure my hon. Friend that we are considering applications from across London and the rest of the country in our determination to reduce the number of people sleeping rough in our cities.