§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidance he has issued to local housing authorities in Wales on the question of council house tenants
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§ Mr. Alec JonesThe number of homeless people in Wales in 1974 is not known, but the number of applications by family units to local authorities for temporary accommodation was:
number of homeless in Wales. The figures for 1975, which are not comparable with the previous year, are as follows:
and how many families were admitted to temporary accommodation in each year since 1965.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe information for the years from 1970 onwards is as follows:
letting surplus rooms in their houses to lodgers;
(2) what representations he has made to local housing authorities who, contrary to the guidance of the Department of the Environment, Circular 24/75 on "Housing: Needs and Action ", have introduced a "lodger charge" on council house tenants who take in paying lodgers.
§ Mr. Alec JonesWelsh Office Circular 42/75 "Housing: Needs and Action" (DOE 24/75) encouraged local authorities not to place obstacles in the way of tenants wishing to take in lodgers.
Under Section 1(2) of the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975, local authorities have freedom to remove lodger charges, in whole or in part, or to reintroduce them as part of their rent policy. We are considering whether to advise local authorities further on this point.