§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the experimental projects set up by local authorities in response to Circular 37/72 to meet the needs of homeless single people requiring care and support in residential environment and the help given in each case by his Department.
§ Dr. OwenI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South (Mr. Parkinson) on 29th March.—[Vol. 908, c.395–6.] I have no power to give specific grants to local authorities, but, since 493W Circular 37/72 was issued, my Department has made bridging grants to experimental voluntary projects run by the St. Mungo Community Trust, Kaleidescope, the Peter Bedford Project and the Salvation Army in the London area; and to St. Anne's Shelter and the Cyrenians in Leeds; Lance in Manchester; Brook House in Liverpool; Shilhay in Devon; and St. Dismas in Southampton. The total amount paid in 1975–76 to voluntary organisations for local projects was £109,870. My Department also makes grants to some national organisations concerned with homeless single people and to local projects for homeless alcoholics, and the Supplementary Benefits Commission, under Schedule 4 to the Supplementary Benefits Act 1966, helps local projects providing services analogous to those provided by reception centres.