§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now publish the latest available statistics on the extent of homelessness in England and Wales, bringing up to date the figures published in respect of 31st December 1974.
§ Mr. FreesonI regret that statistics on homelessness since 1974 are not yet available, because of difficulties encountered in setting up the new system of collecting such information. I hope to be able to publish some information relating to 1974 and the first part of 1975 shortly.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what further discussions his Department has had with those local authorities who disclosed, in answer to his questionnaire on homelessness, that they were having to split up families in temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will name those local authorities, referred to in his statement of 15th December 1975 on homelessness, which were having to split up families in temporary accommodation.
§ Mr. FreesonMy Department and the Department of Health and Social Security have consulted the authorities concerned. The replies so far show that all but a small number of these authorities fully accept that splitting families is undesirable and split them only in exceptional or rare circumstances. My right hon. Friend and I are further considering the situation in those authorities who continue as a matter of policy to separate families. We do not therefore consider it appropriate, at least at the present time, to name the authorities concerned.