§ Mr. Malinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the total amount paid out by his Department in each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 to guest houses, hostels or hotels to provide board and lodging for the homeless;
(2) what was the total amount paid out by his Department in each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 to guest houses, hostels and hotels to provide board and lodging for the homeless in the borough of Croydon.
§ Mr. WhitneySupplementary benefit payments in respect of board and lodging costs are, with rare exceptions, made to the individual claimant rather than to the establishments. I regret that separate records are not kept in respect of people who enter board and lodging accommodation because they are homeless.
§ Mr. Malinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider ensuring that his Department's grants payable for board and lodging in respect of homeless persons will in future be paid direct to the provider of that board and lodging rather than to the homeless person concerned.
§ Mr. WhitneyI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Dr. Boyson) to my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller), on 13 July at column254.