§ LORD HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will arrange for the collection and analysis of statistics from all effective housing aid centres, including statutory, voluntary and "hybrid" centres, since it is likely that this would provide useful information on which to base housing policy at both local and national level.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY or STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BARONESS YOUNG)The Centre for Environmental Studies are at present engaged upon a programme of research into the development of housing aid centres on behalf of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. One aspect of this research is to examine the best way in which information gained about local housing situations and needs through the work of housing aid centres can be used by housing authorities in their task of improving housing conditions. My right honourable friend thinks that, before considering whether further steps should be taken to gain maximum benefit from the good work of such centres, at both the national and local level, it would be better to await the results of this research. But it the noble Lord has any proposals on this aspect of housing aid centre work my right honourable friend would be very willing to pass them to the research team.