§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the number of homeless people in Portsmouth in each half-year since 1979.
§ Sir George YoungThe following table gives the number of households accepted as homeless by Portsmouth local authority in each half-year since 1979.
Number 1979 1st half 75 2nd half 65 1980 1st half 54 2nd half 60 1981 1st half 77 2nd half 71 1982 1st half 65 2nd half 56 1983 1st half 36 2nd half 49 1984 1st half 44 2nd half 109 These figures need to be increased by about 40 per cent. to allow for those households who, although considered to be homeless, received advice and assistance only.
My Department does not collect information on the size of these households.