HC Deb 13 October 1975 vol 897 cc606-7W
Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants in his Department are paid more than the various Ministers within it.

Mr. William Ross

The information is as follows:

there has been a decline since 1970 in the number of cheap beds for otherwise homeless single people in the Merseyside Metropolitan Borough; and what plans she has to combat homelessness amongst single people in that area.

Mr. Meacher

I regret that information about the decline in the number of beds is not available in the form requested. The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Study, which is to be published soon, will show a considerable decline in the number of beds in hostels and lodging houses for single people in the whole of North-West England since 1965. The Government are well aware of the problem and the Liverpool Inner Area Study. commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, includes projects for homeless single people. The sub-group on services for homeless alcoholics of the Advisory Committee on Alcoholism is meeting in Liverpool today to discuss with a wide range of local interests how services for homeless alcoholics might be improved.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the extent of financial support from the SBC for night shelters in the Merseyside Metropolitan Borough for each year since 1970.

Mr. Meacher

Supplementary benefit is available to those who cannot afford to meet any charge made for accommodation at a night shelter, but information as to the extent of this support is not available. The Supplementary Benefits Commission has made no direct grants to a night shelter in the Merseyside Metropolitan Borough.