§ 61. Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the provision of accommodation for the single homeless is, and will continue to be, adequate, particularly in winter.
§ Sir George YoungResponsibility for assisting homeless people rests with local authorities under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, which gives priority to certain categories including single people who are vulnerable. Single homeless people will benefit from the measures to improve availability of accommodation outlined in my reply to my hon. Friend the member for Leek (Mr. Knox) on 17 November 1981.—[Vol. 13; c. 117–8] The Government have also taken positive action to increase hostel provision as part of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme.
143WSome of this will be of specific benefit to areas in London where there are impending closures of hostel and resettlement unit bed-spaces.