HC Deb 02 July 1973 vol 859 cc39-40W
Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of homeless people in each of the 32 Greater London boroughs; and if he will give the reasons for their becoming homeless.

Mr. Dean

I have been asked to reply.

The number of people in temporary accommodation provided by social services departments at 31st December 1972 (the latest date for which figures are available) were as follows:

INNER LONDON
Camden 542
Greenwich
Hackney 266
Hammersmith 43
Islington
Kensington and Chelsea 306
Lambeth 76
Lewisham
Southwark 708
Tower Hamlets 756
Wandsworth 248
Westminster 124
City of London
OUTER LONDON
Barking 52
Barnet 327
Bexley 366
Brent
Bromley 226
Croydon 1, 069
Ealing 506
Enfield 13
Haringey 919
Harrow 91
Havering 21
Hillingdon 138
Hounslow 764
Kingston-upon-Thames 52
Merton
Newham 193
Redbridge 51
Richmond-upon-Thames
Sutton 186
Waltham Forest 43

During 1972 many boroughs decided to provide some or all accommodation for homeless families through their hous- ing departments, as recommended in the first report of the Joint Working Party on Homelessness in London and endorsed by the London Boroughs Association. The main reasons for applications for temporary accommodation because of homelessness were family disputes, eviction because of rent arrears, unauthorised occupation of premises, and arriving new to the area.