§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were in bed and breakfast accommodation on Merseyside at the latest available date; and what was the number of units available for use by temporarily homeless people.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI have no information subsequent to that which I gave the hon. Member on 11th December 1975. More up-to-date information can no doubt be provided by the authorities concerned.— [Vol. 902, c. 306–7.]
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what other help housing authorities in England provide for homeless people in addition to that of temporary accommodation;
(2) what other help housing authorities (a) in Lancashire and (b) on Merseyside provide for homeless people in addition to that of temporary accommodation.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe help offered to homeless people varies according to circumstances and the need of individual cases. The joint circular on homeless-ness—DOE 18/74; DHSS 4/74—describes eight possible ways of helping with accommodation as well as measures to prevent homelessness and make the fullest use of existing properties. But local authorities are not limited to these possibilities and it is for the local authority concerned to decide how best to deal with any particular case.
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§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what local authorities (a) in Lancashire and (b) on Merseyside do not provide for the priority groups as set out in the joint homelessness circular.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI understand that one local authority on Merseyside, and two in Lancashire, each provide for one of the priority groups designated in Circular 18/74. The remainder provide for all of them.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ormskirk of 11th December 1975, what specific measures of responsibility for the homeless have been accepted by local authorities in Lancashire and on Merseyside.
§ Mr. ArmstrongSocial Services authorities have a duty under Section 21(1)(b) of the National Assistance Act 1948 to provide temporary accommodation for those in urgent need in certain circumstances. The housing authorities in Lancashire and on Merseyside, following the advice in the joint circular on homelessness—DOE 18/74—are now, in varying degrees, sharing the responsibility for providing accommodation for the homeless. Details of the ways in which responsibility is being shared are not available centrally.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which local authorities in England have now assumed responsibility for the homeless; which of these make provision for the priority groups designated in Circular 18/74; how many units of temporary accommodation are available in each local authority area for homeless people; and how many (a) homeless families and (b) homeless individuals are currently being accommodated in bed and breakfast hotels in each local authority area;
(2) what is the number of units of accommodation provided by each local authority in England for single homeless persons.
§ Mr. ArmstrongFigures relating to local authorities' acceptance of responsibility, and their provision for the priority groups, are contained in the summary of replies to my Department's questionnaire on homelessness, which was 465W placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 15th December 1975. Information on the numbers of units of accommodation available for use by the homeless, and numbers of homeless people in bed and breakfast hotels, in each local authority area is not available centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of homeless families and homeless persons, respectively, in England at the latest available date.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThere were 6,866 families—28,866 persons—in social services temporary accommodation in England and a further 1,155 families—3,474 persons—in bed and breakfast accommodation in London on 31st March 1974—no bed and breakfast figures are available outside London. I hope to publish more up to date information shortly.