§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what statistical basis he makes plans and allocates resources for the treatment and rehabilitation of and provision of hostel places for homeless alcoholics; and if he will now take steps to obtain an estimate of the numbers of homeless alcoholics.
§ Mr. MoyleThe number of homeless alcoholics, even if a reliable estimate could be made, would not provide a basis for assessing the number of hostel places needed. As the Working Party on Habitual Drunken Offenders said, in relation to its recommendations about hostel places
How many hostel places, as opposed to clients, these figures represent will depend on how often and for how long the places are occupied.The Working Party went on to say that
a gradual build-up of residential provision to meet identified need rather than expansion based on some predetermined figure related to the number of persons estimated to require them is the sensible, and probably the only practicable, course to follow.This is the basis of the policy set out in my Department's Circular 21/73, "Community Services for Alcoholics". I hope that the sub-group set up by the Advisory Committee on Alcoholism to promote services for the homeless alcoholic will suggest ways in which health and local authorities, together with voluntary organisations, can improve their assessment of the need for provision for this group in their areas.
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§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has actually been allocated to voluntary bodies since 1st April 1976 for hostels for alcoholics.
§ Mr. MoyleIn this period grants paid to voluntary bodies for hostels for alcoholics totaled £316,000.